Samsung has reportedly moved to lock down the dedicated Bixby assistant hardware button on the Galaxy S8, after a developer remapped it to run Google Assistant and perform other actions.
Earlier this month it emerged the button could be reprogrammed using third-party apps like All in one Gestures.
Now, according to a member of the XDA developers forum, Samsung has released an OTA update to nix the loophole and preserve the sanctity of the feature.
Related: What is Bixby?
The developer Flar2 was updating his own button mapping app when he discovered Samsung was no longer routing the Bixby button’s functionality through the phone’s Accessibility Services
The report says: “
The decision to remove the functionality will disappoint some of the more tech-minded consumers out there.
XDA had posted a tutorial for how to remap the button ahead of the UK release on April 28 and on April 21 in the UK. That, it seems, is now defunct.
Have you pre-ordered the Samsung Galaxy S8? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.