Samsung Galaxy S8: use Bixby in Germany - how it works
Samsung delivers a new voice assistant for the Galaxy S8 with Bixby. You can find out to what extent you can already use this in Germany in this practical tip. We also show you how to simulate Bixby as a user of older Samsung devices.
Galaxy S8: already use Bixby in Germany
Samsung has created quite a bit of hype about its new voice assistant Bixby in the course of the launch of the Galaxy S8. The AI even gets its own button on the housing of the device.
- It is only annoying for all German customers that voice recognition at Bixby will not be available in German until the end of 2017 (estimated October). Before doing this, you have to limit yourself to the non-language functions, which, however, should not be underestimated. This will primarily give you recommendations on topics that interest you, reminders and messages.
- The information is displayed in card form and is based on your user behavior. If you e.g. For example, if you open the "chip.de" website every evening at 6:00 p.m., Bixby realizes this and makes recommendations based on this knowledge, but also enables you to open the website from the assistant.
- At the same time, it is possible from the start to use Bixby to perform image and text recognition by the camera, for example in the form of information about a point of interest that you are photographing. In addition, there is the usual reminder function, e.g. B. accesses appointments in your calendar.
- However, the most essential function of Bixby, namely voice recognition, is not yet available in Germany and cannot yet be activated. A look at Great Britain shows the possibilities associated with this. There Bixby can be asked "What's this?", Then opens the camera app and scans objects or buildings to answer the question.
- All owners of the Galaxy S8 can therefore look forward to the end of the year if they themselves can enjoy the full range of functions from Bixby and thus exploit its full potential.
However, it is not worth buying the Galaxy S8 only for the use of Bixby. Because you can also use the software on the Galaxy S6 and S7 - and even now:
Use Bixby on the Galaxy S6 - The installation
In order to use Bixby on your old Samsung S6, you have to download the Galaxy S8 Launcher, the personalization client and "Hello Bixby".
- Then use the file manager to open the Galaxy S8 Launcher and install it. You can find out how to install an apk file on your Android smartphone in a special article.
- Do the same with the personalization client and with the "Hello Bixby" app. After installing the three apk files, you need to restart your smartphone.
- After the restart you should already see the "S8 Launcher", which is now your standard launcher. If this is not yet the case, press the Home button once, select the "S8 Launcher" and then confirm with "Always use".
- If you now swipe to the right, Bixby will appear. With a tap on "Start" you begin to set up the service.
- If you want to make changes to the settings later, tap the screen longer in the S8 Launcher and then swipe to the right.
- Tap "Home screen settings" in the bottom right corner and "Hello Bixby Settings" in the menu that opens.
- Here you can customize Bixby according to your preferences and the required information, for example under "Hello Bixby Cards". There you can choose, among other things, which apps should be displayed as entries in Bixby.
- However, please note that voice input from Bixby will only be available in German on the Galaxy S6 and S7 from the end of 2017. Until then, operation by voice input is not possible.
How another owner of the Galaxy S8 can use your own Bixby button in another practical tip.