Mystified about alleged Bixby Voice update

[Kevin-B]

I'm using a Galaxy S8 on Verizon. I keep seeing these blog posts from various sources saying that a new update to the Bixby suite of apps will allow the Bixby button to be re-assigned to nearly any app (except Google Assistant, which is fine with me.)

Well color me dumb, but I can't get Bixby Voice or any other Bixby software to update to this version. I had previously turned off the Bixby Home page and all Bixby-related stuff -- for obvious reasons.

All the articles I read about the update assume that I can even see Bixby Voice in the Galaxy Store, which I cannot. What am I overlooking?

 

[etsok1]

There is no stand alone Bixby Voice app that I could find in the Galaxy Store. My S8 said Bixby Voice was up to date but was running an old version. I downloaded version 2.1.04.18 from androidapksfree.com. After install the options to reprogram the button are available.Theverge.com has good instructions on remapping the button. Worked for me. Bixby button opens camera.

 

[Kevin-B]

There is no stand alone Bixby Voice app that I could find in the Galaxy Store. My S8 said Bixby Voice was up to date but was running an old version. I downloaded version 2.1.04.18 from androidapksfree.com. After install the options to reprogram the button are available.Theverge.com has good instructions on remapping the button. Worked for me. Bixby button opens camera.

Thanks etsok1! That confirms my experience: no standalone B Voice app; old version numbers won't update.

I don't like downloading APKs from unknown sites, but it's great to know that you had a good experience with it.

Edit: I did a bit more research, and according to https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/28/...n-remapping-update-galaxy-s8-s9-plus-note-8-9 Android Pie (v 10) and Samsung's update UI are prerequisites to getting this update directly.

"Assuming you have a compatible device that’s running Samsung’s Android Pie / One Touch UI software, you should be getting a new update that’ll bring the much requested feature to your phone."​

This explains why we see an old version number for Bixby Voice, yet the S8 says it's up to date.

I don't know when/whether the S8 on Verizon is supposed be updated to Pie and One Touch, but I guess I'll have to wait for that.

 

[Kevin-B]

Today's update to Samsung One UI / Android Pie made this Bixby update possible. Once the system update was installed, Bixby voice would update, and that gave me access to settings to adjust what app opens when I single-press the Bixby button. [Depending on the settings you choose, either single- or double-pressing the button always opens the Bixby screen which I have no use for.]

Since I use a different launcher, it was a process of exploring to remember how to get the Bixby setting open in the first place. But once I remembered how, it went pretty smoothly.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

Was it. The Christopher Walken. Update?
J/K