Among a lot of predictions and assumptions, Samsung delivered its most unique and impressive software version, Android 15-based One UI 7 for the Galaxy S24 series last week. The newest update finally unlocks new potentials like vertical app drawer, while also dividing the notification panel and Quick Settings into two; a new Now Bar is here to track live activities straight from the lock screen.
With the new version, Samsung significantly appears to focus on various newly-added functionalities that will offer the next level experience to the users.
Samsung One UI 7 Now Bar a Unique Island
Taking center stage, One UI 7 highlighted a new, incredible yet streamlined notification system, Now Bar, which allows Galaxy users to directly engage with the key information right from their device’s lock screen.
It is basically a dynamic interface of live activities displayed at the bottom of the lock screen, while it is placed at the top left corner of the home screen in a pill-shaped bar, that consists of information from various functions including Bixby, Clock (stopwatch and timer), SOS, Interpreter, Maps, Samsung Health, Voice Recorder, and Notes, eliminating the need to constantly unlock the phone to see the key information.
Here’s How it Actually Works?
For reference, the Now Bar not only makes the entire UI more intuitive, users can easily interact with it too. Users can notice a charging animation when plugging in their phone, while the media control for music is placed at the bottom of the lock screen and tapping on it will expand it into a music player on the full-screen.
Meanwhile, on the home screen, the Now Bar shrinks itself to the left corner of the screen that is next to the selfie camera for the activities such as timers, voice recordings, and stopwatches. When tapped on it will extend the bar that will allow users to perform certain activities like pause the voice recording, or stop the timer.
On top of that, Samsung could perform certain changes to this newest Now Bar addition and other relevant features as well, as the latest version is currently only compatible with certain functionalities and is expected to receive some more enhancements in the coming future.
