Android OEMs often prefer to bundle in-home apps with their skins, replacing the Google made solutions. Dialer, messaging app, camera, browser, even the clock app. I would say the integration is not always helpful, especially when your alarm is not going off after rebooting your phone.
As the camera app has some serious couplings with the underlying image processing stack, shipping a generic one is going to be a tricky. On the other hand, remaining apps are mostly themed after the skin, although some of them are cross-compatible with other phones as well.
Just like Xiaomi made the ShareMe (previously Mi Drop) app compatible with every Android devices, Samsung did the same with their own internet browser. Dubbed as Samsung Internet, the Chromium based browser features anti-tracking, content blocking, QR code scanner and numerous other handy features.
The current stable version of the app is 9.4.x, but it misses an important functionality called Video Assistant. First introduced in v4.2, the Video Assistant lets you zoom into any web video. It also has built in brightness control.
Unfortunately the South Korean OEM decided to drop this useful feature from v9 altogether. They did not mention any particular reason, but both the stable and the beta branches of Samsung Internet app lack the wholesome mode of video viewing.
Hardcore fans opt for downgrading to older 8.2.x builds to continue using the Video Assistant. However, running an outdated browser is an extremely risky proposition in these days. They are also losing the opportunity of using the improved UI as well as other enhancements.
Worry not young padawan, as Samsung is finally bringing back this highly praised feature. The latest beta of Samsung Internet (10.2.00.19) comes with a rudimentary redesign of the Video Assistant.
* Video Assistant
Video Assistant is back to support you to enjoy video watching experience more than ever. With the purple floating button, you can easily change to watch as full-screen or popup-screen.
(Limitation) Popup play can be restricted by Content Providers.
You can sideload the version from APK Mirror or download from Google Play Store via the beta channel. They also updated the underlying Chromium engine from v67 to v71, so users of the app should get a much more secure and stable browsing experience.
Which app is your go-to choice for browsing the internet on your phone/tablet? Comment below.
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Kingshuk De
896 Posts
I came from a mixed background of Statistics and Computer Science. My research domains included embedded computer systems, mobile computing and delay tolerant networks in post-disaster scenarios. Apart from tinkering with gadgets or building hackintosh, I like to hop on various subreddits and forums like MyDigitalLife and XDA.
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