I made a similar post for Beta 1. So far for me, Beta 2 has been very stable and I have not run into any bugs or issues, so I won't be addressing any of that. However, I believe Samsung has the ability to greatly improve the user experience in the next beta update:
UI and Animations:
Animations feel smoother overall, but could be more fluid (bounce, fades, slides, etc, instead of immediate termination at transitions. Charging animation in the status bar is perfect example).
Text in UI, and in icons (like in the status bar) are not uniform. Some text elements are misaligned, not the same boldness, etc.
Spacing with elements in UI is off, examples include the icons in quick settings, and notifications having dead space beneath text in notifications above reply options.
No animations in some stock apps (like the clock app), which overall affects user experience.
Notifications and Quick Panel:
Call notification has to be swiped on to mute or put call on speaker, current expanded view should be default view.
Ability to start/end call recording from Notification view.
A toggleable option to have the media player in the Notifications View when the quick panel is set to Together. It is currently inconvenient having to swipe twice if you want to access your media player.
Options to resize, add, and remove panels from the Quick Settings view
Give options to toggle sound settings in quick panel for Buds 3 Pro while on a call, the default app allows for these changes while on a call.
Potentially Buds 2 Pro (and maybe even Buds Pro) the same functions for media in quick panel as Buds 3 Pro.
A toggleable option to group live notifications inside of notification panel so they away less space from other notifications.
An option to see Notification History from the Notification View, it could potentially replace the option for Notification Settings. Preferably, giving an option to choose which item shows there for notification settings.
Now Bar:
Media Playback color should be a blurred background with the colors of the album art or a gradient of colors from the album art instead of a static color. Potentially having these colors move would make the media on Now Bar look better.
Phone Calls:
No option to toggle voice used for call recording (the voice set up for Bixby/Text Call is the one chosen for call recordings).
Universal audio playback in apps while on a phone call (I'm aware that this could be a broader Android issue, but at the very least make all native apps have this function).
Visual change in UI for when the user is on hold (phone call), but they did not initiate it.
Lock Screen
Frosted notifications on the lock screen will help with readability.
Samsung, a good number of these suggestions have been seen or voiced by many of the people in this beta, and online otherwise. Please consider making these adjustments.
Samsung took their sweet time to release these betas, and we are now finding out that is not worth the hype. There are tons of improvements but is far from the complete overhaul Samsung announced. I know it is a beta, but I've been part of betas since the S10 and the final release are always very similar to betas.
Also want to add something else to your list: - battery icon transition from lockscreen to AOD shifts like crazy to the left and then to the right.
Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed and well-thought-out feedback about Beta 2. It's great to hear that you've found this update to be stable and without significant bugs. Your constructive suggestions for improving the user experience are greatly appreciated and provide valuable insight into areas where further refinements can enhance the overall interface.
UI and Animations
Your points about improving animations to be more fluid and consistent are noted. Enhancing transitions and addressing text alignment and spacing issues, as well as adding animations in stock apps like the clock, can contribute significantly to a polished user experience. The charging animation example is an excellent reference point for the level of fluidity users expect.
Notifications and Quick Panel
Your suggestions for improving the notification and quick panel functionality, such as:
Setting the current expanded call notification view as default,
Adding toggle options for call recording and media player accessibility,
Customizing Quick Settings view,
Grouping live notifications, and
Adding a Notification History option,
are all thoughtful ideas that could streamline interactions and make everyday tasks more intuitive.
Now Bar
The idea of using dynamic, blurred, or gradient colors based on album art for media playback in the Now Bar is particularly creative and would certainly add a visually engaging touch. Adding subtle motion could further elevate the aesthetic.
Phone Calls
The specific call-related feedback, such as the ability to toggle voice for call recordings and visual cues for call hold states, demonstrates a deep understanding of user pain points. Addressing universal audio playback during calls is also an insightful suggestion, though, as you noted, it may require collaboration with Android as a platform.
Lock Screen
Your suggestion to implement frosted notifications for better readability on the lock screen is another excellent idea that could improve clarity while maintaining a sleek design.
Many of your suggestions align with what we've heard from other Beta users, and your insights help to reinforce their importance. We'll ensure this feedback is shared with the relevant teams for consideration in future updates.
Thank you again for contributing to the Beta program and for taking the time to provide such thoughtful feedback. Your participation is invaluable in helping us improve the user experience.
