After distributing its beta version to American S9 and S9+ devices at the end of November and updating international versions of the phone earlier this month, Samsung is now releasing Android 9 Pie and One UI to Comcast’s Xfinity S9s. That's a bit of a coup for Xfinity, as we're not accustomed to seeing a smaller carrier's version updated first, especially not before unlocked handsets.
Read MoreUS Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+, and Note 8 get treated to Android 9 Pie beta and One UI
After releasing Android 9 Pie for the American Galaxy S9, S9+, and Note 9, Samsung is now rolling out the new software to the US variants of the Galaxy S8, S8+, and Note 8. People in other countries, such as the UK, India, and Korea, were already able to participate in the beta program, and it only made sense for the 2017 handsets to follow in their siblings' footsteps.
Read More[Update: S8/S8+ too] Samsung Android 9 Pie beta with One UI now available for Galaxy Note8
Samsung's long-awaited Android 9 Pie update finally started coming to phones late last year, complete with a rather sweeping interface overhaul in One UI (maybe we'll have to stop calling it TouchWiz now). The roadmap for bringing Pie to other phones tells us that the Galaxy Note8 will be getting it in February, and sure enough, the beta is now available to try.
Read MoreGalaxy Note9 Android 9 Pie update starts rolling out in Germany
Samsung, I must tip my hat to you. The company is doing a better job this year with the Pie update than it has in any year prior. After beta testing Android 9 with One UI on its Galaxy S9/S9+ and Note9 for a bit, it rolled out the stable version to the former on Christmas and updated its forecast for the latter to say it would land in January instead of February. True to its word, it didn't take more than a couple of days for this to happen.
Read MoreSamsung updates its Pie roadmap: Note9 and Note8 move up a month to January and February, respectively
Samsung's Android 9 Pie rollout has been rather swift. After beta testing it along with its new One UI on the Galaxy S9, S9+, and Note9, it began rolling it out to users of the first two models late in December. Back then, the company also released a Pie update roadmap with the months it expected to push the OTA for its remaining devices. Now, an updated roadmap has been spotted by SamMobile, pointing to quicker release dates for the Note9 and Note8.
Read MoreSamsung is working on a Night Sight clone called Bright Night
Samsung's Pie-based One UI will come with a plethora of changes like a night mode interface, and buttons shifted toward the bottom of the display. According to a new report from XDA, it'll also come with a new camera mode called "Bright Night." You can probably guess what that is—it's Samsung's version of Google's almost magical Night Sight feature on the Pixels. Will it be as magical? We just don't know yet.
Read More[Update: Beta arriving] Samsung's One UI Pie beta now available on unlocked Note 9 in the US
Samsung has traditionally been behind on UI design, which I know is shocking for the company that brought you TouchWiz. However, it's trying to turn things around with One UI. The revamped Pie-based interface is coming next year in stable form, but there's a beta. That beta has apparently expanded to US unlocked Note 9 devices. Yay.
Read More[Update: Now available in US, Germany] Samsung One UI with Android 9 Pie beta now rolling out to Galaxy S9/S9+
After months of rumors, leaks, and even a good look at the interface to come, Samsung's TouchWiz One UI has now launched with the Android 9 Pie beta program. It appears to be live only in the company's home country, South Korea, for now, with Germany and the US still having to wait a little longer.
The Best Of AP
Samsung Galaxy S10 will reportedly have 'punch hole' cutout, ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, and triple rear cameras
With 2018's high-profile phone launches now behind us, it's time to look ahead to what next year will bring. One of the first and most anticipated releases in the calendar for 2019 is the Samsung Galaxy S10, which we will probably see unveiled at the end of February during MWC in Barcelona. Evan Blass has just shared some details about the device.
Read MoreAndroid 9 Pie is coming to the Galaxy S9, S9+, and Note9 in January
Samsung's new One UI isn't just a development in the company's previous design aesthetic, it's also noteworthy for being the vehicle for the Galaxy S9, S9+, and Note9's update to Android 9 Pie. You see, we've seen the early tests for One UI before, we know it's based on Android Pie, and according to Samsung's Developer Conference keynote, One UI is expected to land next January. Ipso facto, those phones should be getting Pie then.
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