2019-04-02 Update

[Cam Kirmser]

Ok, moments ago I ran the update and now the icon graphics are all different, the left hand button that lets you scroll through open apps now swipes horizontally instead of vertically, and the time no longer shows on my phone when it's off, despite having turned Always On Display on.

Why do software people have to CHANGE things?? Why can't those microscopic attention span people AT LEAST leave the option to retain existing functionality and graphics??

If there are security needs or holes that need plugged, fine, but let those who are pleased with what they have KEEP IT THAT WAY!!

 

[mikedt]

Sounds like it had the full blown Pie 9 update, from Oreo 8. Which is a lot more than just a security update.

Although I think some of the changes you've seen, like icon graphics, horizontal instead of vertical, and time when the screen is off are specific to Samsung devices, as I've not seen that myself with the Pie update.

I do have a Galaxy S7 here, which may or may not receive Pie, I don't know for sure.

 

[Cam Kirmser]

The biggest issue is with the SMS Messenger.

White is a big power hog. So, I changed the background of the messenger app to a darker graphic. This new update not only removed my custom background and returned it to white, it removed the ability to customize the app, preventing me from reapplying the darker image file.

This was one place where my Nokia Lumia 920 was far superior. Nokia understood that white drained power. So, pretty much everything defaulted to a dark, if not black, background. The way it synched with my Ford was far superior, too.

Anyway, it seems Samsung is getting deluged with complaints on this update. 'Course, that still doesn't explain why updates can't make cosmetic changes optional, rather than forcing them on you.

 

[ocnbrze]

yeah i have the note 8 and a lot of that has happened for me as well. i had some shortcuts on my home screen get removed. it was quite annoying to reconfigure things, but such is the life of a major update.

 

[mikedt]

The SMS Messenger changes, I'm sure that's a Samsung specific thing as well with their own app. I've got a Huawei Mate 10 that was updated to Pie from Oreo a couple of months ago, and quite frankly I've not seen any of the things you've described. And the only real changes I seen are to the camera, to add more features, which is specific to this Huawei of course.

I've seen the recent Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus in stores that's already running Pie. And it seems OK to me. If my S7 gets updated, I'll let the forum know.

 

[Hadron]

One advantage of using third party message apps is that a system update won't change them.

Seriously, if Samsung's new message app isn't to your taste, just use a different one. There's nothing special about the apps manufacturers provide.

And yeah, this sounds like Android 9 and the One UI, so a major version update. I don't know what you mean by the "button that lets you scroll through recent apps" because I don't have one of them - I assume it's a Samsung thing. But check through your settings for gesture controls, because standard (non-Samsung) android 9 includes an option to revert to Android 8 style navigation buttons (on my Pixel it has the less than obvious name "swipe up on home button").