Samsung isn't known for gracefully aging devices, with previous generations quickly falling out of the company's favor. However, the firm is getting better at providing timely updates, as the Galaxy S9 received the rethought TouchWiz One UI along with Android Pie in December, giving it the same software as its successor. Now, the aging flagship received another update that improves the camera, giving it a dedicated Night Mode and further refinements.
[Update: Note9 too] Samsung Galaxy S9 gets Night Mode and other camera improvements in latest update
Verizon launches RCS profile with support for Galaxy S9, S9+
The state of RCS messaging in the United States is a little bleak at the moment. Sure, it's got a massive character limit that puts SMS to shame, more multimedia options than MMS, and read receipts, but availability is inconsistent and the resources it takes to set up servers are not small. Verizon had planned on bringing on its RCS profile by "early 2019," and, if you consider "before July 1" early enough for you, it has succeeded in delivering it to the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+.
Read MorePlugable launches Cube USB-C docking station for Samsung devices
More than two years after Samsung announced its original Dex dock, Plugable designed a competitor that can work with virtually any USB-C device. The Cube is a tiny hub that connects to your device through an external cable and acts as a dock to link it to USB peripherals, a monitor, and even an external network.
Read MoreLinux on DeX is now compatible with Galaxy S9, S10, and Tab S5e
Linux on DeX, announced at a developer conference last year, is a program that lets you run Linux (Ubuntu, in this case) on your Samsung smartphone or tablet, turning it into a full-fledged computer. Initially, it only worked on the Galaxy Note 9 and Tab S4, but with today's update, both Galaxy S9 and S10 families are now supported (along with, for some reason, the mid-range Tab S5e).
Read MoreUnlocked Samsung Galaxy S9 as low as $400 from Best Buy, down to $500 at various retailers
The Samsung Galaxy S9 is now relegated to the shadows of the newer S10, but it still has enough going for it to be a strong consideration for anyone looking to purchase a well-spec'ed smartphone without spending ludicrous amounts of money. The S9 is currently available for $400 from Best Buy with an activation at purchase or for $500 without any activation requirement from that retailer and others. The larger S9+ is also available for $500 from Best Buy with activation or for as little as $574 without any activation from various retailers.
Read MoreSamsung's One UI night mode forces Android Auto to think it's always nighttime
With One UI, Samsung introduced a system-wide night mode for its Android Pie devices. The new feature darkens the manufacturer's proprietary software such as the Calculator and Messages apps and also alters the overall menus and interface colors, but still requires you to manually enable dark mode in other applications like Messenger or Slack. Android Auto, on the other hand, happily receives this setting and defaults to it, no matter the time of the day.
Read MoreTWRP now officially available for the Snapdragon Galaxy S9/S9+
Many of Samsung's phones, including its flagship Galaxy S and Note series, ship with different processors depending on where they are sold. Some models have the company's own Exynos chips, while others have Snapdragon processors. Almost one year after the phone's release, the TWRP custom recovery now has official builds for the Snapdragon Galaxy S9/S9+.
Read MoreBixby button remapping is rolling out to the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S9
Samsung really, really wants you to use Bixby. That's why it has included a physical button to access its woefully underpowered assistant on most phones since the Galaxy S8. Samsung has traditionally tried to prevent remapping that button, but the Galaxy S10 changed that. The official Bixby remapping feature from that phone is now spreading to Samsung's other devices.
Read MoreThe Best Of AP
Android 9 Pie is rolling out now to unlocked Samsung Galaxy S9 devices
After pretty much every carrier version of the device has already received the update, owners of unlocked Samsung Galaxy S9 phones are reporting that Android 9 Pie has started to grace their units. The hefty 1.7-gigabyte update also brings with it Samsung's updated One UI as well as the January Android security patch.
Read More[Update x2: Rolling out now] T-Mobile's Android 9 Pie updates for Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ arrive with RCS Universal Profile in tow
It may be the last major network operator in the US to push its Android 9 Pie update out to Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ units, but T-Mobile can at least boast the inclusion of support for RCS Universal Profile 1.0 with its build.
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