Now Bar
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
One key feature of Samsung’s new One UI 7 update could introduce an important new tool. According to SamMobile, a new Good Lock module may address one of the Now Bar’s biggest shortcomings.
The One UI 7 Now Bar is designed to provide at-a-glance information on a device’s lock screen and Always on Display function. Think of it as something like Apple’s Dynamic Island. Unfortunately, in its present form, it doesn’t offer much customization. What you see is what you get.
Samsung is developing a new Good Lock module that will allow users to customize the Now Bar. The module will allow users to change several characteristics, such as color, size, and animations.
There are rumors that the new module, NOWBAR, might also include an option to enable third-party app support for the Now Bar.
is rumored around. samsung is developing application for Good lock module called NOWBAR. which expands new features.
– change color, like
– Changing Size nowbar
– Remove and insert animations
– Forced support all third-party apps
Only rumors going around from the web 🫣
— Tony tech (@Tonysamsunglove) March 12, 2025
The Samsung One UI 7 update, first launched with the Galaxy S25 series, emphasizes enhanced personalization and intuitive interactions. Although it was initially available only on the Galaxy S25 devices, Samsung intends to roll out the One UI 7 update to a wider array of Galaxy devices, reinforcing its dedication to delivering a more dynamic and user-friendly interface.
The One UI 7 update is expected to become available for the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S23, and Galaxy S24 series. It should also be available for newer devices in the Galaxy Z series, Galaxy Tab series, and Galaxy A series.
Samsung undoubtedly has ambitious plans for the Now Bar, and we can anticipate numerous updates in the coming months as more devices start to support One UI 7. By integrating these dynamic information displays, Samsung aims to enhance user efficiency and create a more intuitive experience within its One UI ecosystem.
Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.
Samsung’s One UI 7 update coming to more devices starting next month
The number of devices receiving the Samsung One UI 7 update has expanded, and we now probably know when devices will begin receiving the update, which first launched with the new Galaxy S25 series in January.
According to Samsung Singapore, the long-awaited update will start on Monday, April 14, for Galaxy S24 series devices. The update is expected to be available for other devices soon after. Previously, we noted that a worldwide rollout of One UI 7 would begin a week earlier, starting on April 7.
Read more
Samsung confirms One UI 7 release date for first wave of Galaxy owners
The wait for Android 15 on Samsung smartphones will finally be over early next month. Samsung has announced that the highly-anticipated One UI 7 update will be released widely via the stable channel starting April 7 for Galaxy smartphone users.
In the first wave of rollout, the Galaxy S24 series phones, alongside Samsung’s current generation foldable — Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 — will be covered. It will eventually expand to older flagships, alongside a bunch of mid-range phones in the Galaxy A-series, as well.
In the coming weeks, One UI 7 will also land on the Galaxy S24 FE, Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 5, and Galaxy Z Flip 5 phones. On the tablet side, the Galaxy Tab S10 will be the early recipient, followed by the Galaxy Tab S9 series.
A Guided Demo of Galaxy AI | Galaxy S25 Series | Samsung
Samsung kicked off the beta-testing program in December last year, and in the past few weeks, the pool of devices has steadily expanded. One UI 7 brings a fresh design language to the phone, with a cleaner Home Screen, improved widgets, and more intuitive lock screen.
Leading the list of new features is the new Now Bar, which tracks important events and keeps users updated via a dedicated widget, right on the Lock Screen. AI is a huge part of the One UI 7 experience, riding under the Galaxy AI banner. Among them is a feature called AI Select, which is aware of the on-screen content, and based on what users highlight, it will offer actionable buttons.
Galaxy AI | Now Brief | Galaxy S25 Ultra | Samsung
For example, if there’s a ticket in the camera view, AI select can automatically surface one-tap controls such as adding it to the Calendar or showing the venue on Google Maps. Then there’s Writing Assist, which offers a handful of AI-powered facilities such as rewriting, summarization, and proofreading, working in the same vein as Writing Tools on Apple devices.
However, do keep in mind that not all One UI 7 features will be available across every compatible device. For example, the audio eraser feature, which can selectively erase noise from videos, will not go beyond phones older than the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Tab S10 duo, or the sixth-generation Samsung foldable phones. Similar is the situation with natural language search in the Settings app.
Read more
Samsung might charge a bomb for the svelte Galaxy S25 Edge
So far, Samsung has only given a see-but-no-touch glimpse of its ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge smartphone. It’s going to be a vehicle of engineering showcase for Samsung, but to an average buyer, the phone might leave a rather big hole in their wallets.
According to the folks over at Android Headlines, Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge’s 12GB RAM / 256GB storage variant will reportedly fall in the ballpark of €1,200 and €1,300, which roughly translates to $1,300 and $1,400 based on current conversion rates.
For the higher end-variant with double the onboard storage, Samsung is reportedly eyeing an asking price in the range of €1,300 and €1,400m, which broadly comes in at $1,400 to $1,522 apiece. For comparison, Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Air could cost somewhere around $900 upon its launch later this year.
A sliver of hope
Read more
