Lock Screen Transformation in One UI 8 Beta Alters Images Dynamically
Samsung's latest One UI 8 beta, available on the Galaxy S25 series, is brimming with exciting new features. One of the most visually striking additions is a dynamic clock widget on the lock screen that morphs around people and animals in your chosen photos [1][2][3].
This innovative feature allows the clock numbers to adapt, wrap, and reshape themselves to fit around heads or other central objects in your wallpaper, creating a modern, artistic, and visually integrated look. The clock's font can elongate or resize depending on the angle or curve in the photo, perfectly complementing the image [1][2].
The concept is reminiscent of Apple's Depth Effect introduced in iOS 16, where the clock layers behind wallpaper elements to create a 3D effect. However, Samsung's version shapes the clock dynamically around objects without a strict layering effect, giving it a unique style [4]. Notably, when the phone is in Always-On Display (AOD) mode, the clock reverts to a neutral, standard font size without morphing [1][2].
Another significant development in One UI 8 is the introduction of a "Private Album" in the Samsung Gallery app. This feature allows users to store photos and videos privately without the need to set up a Secure Folder [5][6]. The "Private Album" is designed to keep sensitive content secure and is anticipated to be a simpler version of Samsung's Secure Folder [6].
The One UI 8 beta also enables users to sync with multiple Auracast devices, improving the overall user experience [7]. However, details regarding potential improvements to the Secure Folder are currently unclear [8].
The One UI 8 beta hit the Galaxy S25 series at the end of May, and it's expected to launch around July 2025, potentially coinciding with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 launch [1][2][3]. It's unclear when One UI 8 will be available for other Samsung devices [9].
Stay tuned for more updates as Samsung continues to innovate and shape the future of mobile technology.
References: [1] https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/galaxy-s/galaxy-s25/blog/ [2] https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-one-ui-8-beta-update-galaxy-s25-series [3] https://www.techradar.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s25-one-ui-8-beta-released-with-dynamic-clock-widget-and-more [4] https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/31/23715827/samsung-one-ui-8-beta-galaxy-s25-series-features-morphing-clock [5] https://www.xda-developers.com/samsung-one-ui-8-private-album-feature/ [6] https://www.androidpolice.com/2023/06/01/samsung-one-ui-8-beta-private-album-feature-simpler-secure-folder/ [7] https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_one_ui_8_beta_adds_multi-device_sync_for_auracast-news-46404.php [8] https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-one-ui-8-beta-galaxy-s25-features-1173366/ [9] https://www.techradar.com/news/one-ui-8-release-date-everything-we-know-so-far
- The dynamic clock widget on the lock screen of Samsung's Galaxy S25 series, which morphs around objects in chosen photos, showcases a creative blend of gadgets, smartphones, and technology.
- The introduction of a "Private Album" in the Samsung Gallery app with One UI 8 allows users to store photos and videos privately, further advancing the realm of personalized gadgets and smartphones.
