NEWS
Will Samsung think Mini Music Player for One UI 7 Now bar?
Ever since the One UI 7 beta 3 update was released for the Galaxy S24 series a few days ago, users have been sharing their feedback as well as suggestions to make the next update more effective. Recently, a beta tester proposed adding a mini music player to the One UI 7 home screen Now Bar to enhance user experience.
Meanwhile, on the request to add a Mini Music player to the One UI 7 Now bar, the company responded through a moderator note that it will make the operation of the music player convenient, thereby improving the user experience.
If the idea of a mini music player is added to the Now bar of the home screen in the One UI software, it will give users quick and direct access to the essential controls of their music playback such as play, pause, skip tracks and adjust volume without opening a dedicated app.
This will undoubtedly streamline multitasking and improve day-to-day usability.
Implementation Suggestions by user
- Design: A sleek and unobtrusive design, with basic controls (play/pause, skip, volume adjustment) and optional album art.
- Integration: Compatibility with Samsung Music, Spotify, and other popular streaming apps for a unified experience.
- Customisation: Allow users to toggle the feature on or off, ensuring flexibility for those who prefer a cleaner interface.
Now, we have to wait and see if Samsung will consider a mini music player for the One UI 7 Now Bar. Here is how Samsung has highlighted the potential benefits through feedback from community moderators:
Hello,
Thank you for sharing such a well-thought-out proposal for a mini music player on the Home Screen Now Bar. Your suggestions are detailed and clearly demonstrate how this feature could enhance the One UI experience. Please find the commentaries on each of your suggestions.
1. Convenience and Accessibility:
A compact music player on the Now Bar is an excellent idea. Quick and direct access to essential controls without opening a dedicated app would undoubtedly streamline multitasking and improve day-to-day usability.
2. Enhanced User Experience:
Your emphasis on intuitive design aligns perfectly with Samsung’s user-centric approach. A seamless music control experience would be a great addition to One UI’s functionality.
3. Competitive Edge:
You’re absolutely right that a feature like this could set Samsung apart and further solidify its position as a leader in innovative design. Competing with similar features on other platforms while offering Samsung’s unique touch could be a winning combination.
4. Implementation:
Your suggestions for design, integration, and customization are thoughtful and practical. The option to toggle the feature on or off ensures flexibility, catering to both users who prefer a clean interface and those who value functionality.We’ll ensure your detailed proposal is shared with the development team. It’s ideas like yours that help shape One UI into an even more dynamic and user-friendly experience. If the community has additional thoughts or suggestions, feel free to share them below—this discussion could inspire even more enhancements!
Thank you again for your valuable input.
Regards,
One UI Beta Team
With One UI 7 Beta 3, the Korean tech giant has shown off some of the latest big changes compared to the previous beta build. These include Design changes to the battery indicator, Quick panel changes, redesigned Galaxy AI icon, Now Bar settings, altered Home Screen settings menu, and much more.
One UI 7 Stable
The One UI 7 beta program began on the Galaxy S24 series early last month, and Samsung has reportedly canceled plans to allow beta access to owners of other Galaxy smartphones. Also, the upcoming Galaxy S25 series will be the first phones to run the stable version of One UI 7, and all existing Galaxy S smartphones are rumored to receive it in an update in February 2025.
Galaxy S25 series will launch at the the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event that will take place in San Jose, California, USA.
More on One UI 7 Beta
NEWS
One UI 8.5 gets a redesigned YouTube card for Now Brief
Samsung recently rolled out the latest One UI 8.5 beta build for the latest Galaxy flagship smartphones. The new One UI 8.5 beta version brings some changes and improvements, giving users an early taste of the new software. Additionally, One UI 8.5 includes a redesigned YouTube card for the Now Brief.
With One UI 8, the “YouTube card” in the “Now Brief” recommendation for watching show videos vertically as a list can only show two videos.
Now, with One UI 8.5, the YouTube card in “Now Brief,” which shows recommendations horizontally in a carousel that you can swipe through, now shows up to ten videos, along with larger feature images for each video.
If YouTube videos aren’t showing on your Now Brief feed, you can navigate to and open Settings, then tap Galaxy AI, and then tap Now Brief. Then, tap Content to include and enable the YouTube switch. When you’re finished, tap Back.
Earlier this week, Samsung launched the One UI 8.5 beta program for the Galaxy S25 series. Soon, the company may expand the beta program to phones in the Galaxy Z lineup and older Galaxy S series devices.
The One UI 8.5 beta update makes Galaxy AI image creation easier, improves device connectivity, improves Smart Quick Share, lock screen, and weather tools, enhances Samsung Health insights, strengthens security, enhances battery management, improves accessibility, adds upgrade reminders, and more.

NEWS
Galaxy Z Flip 7, Fold 7 models receive December 2025 security update, next could be One UI 8.5 Beta
Samsung has released a new update for the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 smartphones, which installs the December 2025 security patch update to improve system security and stability. According to reports, the update is already live for users in Korea, and the company will soon release it in other countries as well.
The December 2025 security update for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 smartphones has arrived with One UI build versions F966NKSS6AYKE and F766NKSS6AYKE. This is an initial rollout, so it may take a few hours or days to reach all models.
The December 2025 security patch fixes 57 security vulnerabilities present in the previous version of the OS.
Notably, this update is based on Android 16 and One UI 8. And the device is eligible for One UI 8.5 beta based on Android 16. On December 08, Samsung opened the beta program for the next version of One UI 8.5 only to the Galaxy S25 series. Plus, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 will be the next devices in line.
Although the exact release date hasn’t been revealed yet, it’s expected to be released sometime in December 2025. The company plans to begin the stable rollout of One UI 8.5 with the Galaxy S26 series next year. More users will receive the update shortly afterward.
So, if you are using the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 smartphone, install the latest security update now to make your device ready for future updates. The next update could be One UI 8.5 Beta.
To manually check for security updates, go to your phone’s settings. At the bottom, you’ll find the Software Update section; simply open it. In the submenu, if your device receives a new OTA update, you’ll need to tap the Download and Install button.
NEWS
One UI 8.5 private album to Gallery app: Check what’s new in this feature
Samsung has unlocked several productive features with One UI 8.5, but are you aware of the “Private Album” tool in the Gallery app? Yes, it’s a new hidden feature that the company didn’t mention in the changelog. But it offers several useful benefits for device owners.
As the name suggests, the Private Album feature in the One UI 8.5 Gallery app hides sensitive photos and videos in your private album so that they don’t appear in the gallery or other apps.
Following long-standing demand and interest from fans, Samsung is finally introducing a private album feature that Galaxy users have been requesting for years. Until now, the only way for Galaxy users to hide sensitive photos and videos on their Galaxy devices was the Secure Folder.
Now let’s see how you can use the One UI 8.5 private album in the Gallery app.
Before proceeding, users should ensure their device is running the latest One UI software version. The One UI 8.5 build is currently only available for a limited number of eligible devices. However, Huawei may soon bring these impressive improvements to more models.
To begin with, open the Gallery app. Select desired images. Once done, tap More (⋮), click on the Move to private album in the toolbar below.

How to access a private album in the Gallery app.
Galaxy users can access their private albums by tapping the menu button on the home screen of the Gallery app. It unlocks with your fingerprint or whatever screen lock method you use, providing enhanced privacy. However, Samsung disables the screenshot functionality within this feature for added security.
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