Is Bixby really that bad?

[pdqgp]

I think Bixby works great for controlling phone commands/functions. I've set up a series of controls for my settings that I find great. In terms of gathering me content from the internet, I use Google Assistant as it works far better. It even kicks Siri's butt IMO. I'm constantly showing my wife as she attempts/uses Siri on her phone how Google not only pulls down better information, it's lightening fast and it reads you the info too. Lots of times Siri simply says "here's what I've found on the web", etc....

Bixby though, great for settings and customizing your phone.

 

[cert15z]

Bixby is great. I think when it gets more refined, it's going to be a excellent feature.

 

[dlgus]

Just bought Note 8s for me and my wife and they will be here tomorrow. We both have S7 edges and both use (me more than her) google assistant quite frequently.

Is bixby that bad? Can I turn off bixby and run google assistant? Can you remap the bixby button to go to google assistant? Will google assistant open from the lock screen or the always on display screen unlike the S7?

Thanks.

There are Bixby threads, but here is my take: I have in my hot little hands a 1000 dollar piece of computer equipment. To pay that kinda $$$ and not at least TRY to use everything it can do seems a waste. So, I tried Bixby, and so far, I love it.

 

[dlgus]

I can't get Bixby to open when I say "Hi Bixby" no matter what I try on my Note 8.

Check to see where your voice wake-up is set. Mine was on low. Raised to medium and it's fine.

 

[dlgus]

I'm just now getting into setting various quick commands and learning how to efficiently use Bixby, but I don't think I'd ever try to use it when out in public. Aside from the fact that talking to your phone probably looks stupid, I'd imagine that with all the background noises going on, trying to use Bixby would be an exercise in futility.

I set up some quick commands so that the phone can automate several tasks at one time and I think things like that will be pretty useful. In it's current state it could never fully replace the need to physically hold and navigate your phone, but so far I'm digging what it's doing.

It can be difficult outside, but I don't worry about looking silly.. everywhere you look, someone is talking to their phone.

 

[dlgus]

I'm giving it a chance. It has issues sure, you would think after having s-voice for so long some of these things would've been working.

Samsung's Bixby can't initiate playing music with Samsung's music player, that's just bad.

Bixby can control device functions though, like restarting the phone, and toggle settings, and it does other assistant things like searching the internet, tell jokes (bad jokes, but still), gives weather forecast, game scores, etc.

The main reason I liked s-voice over google assistantwas because "ok google" sounds stupid, but with s-voice you could set it to respond to whatever you choose. I hope an update to Bixbybrings that back.

When people say they feel silly talking to their phone, it reminds me of when people refused to use bluetooth headsets for the same reason.

I've taught my bixby other responses. I asked if she had a boyfriend, and I don't even remember the stock response, but I changed it to "I've got a crush on your laptop"

 

[Brew Swayne]

It can be difficult outside, but I don't worry about looking silly.. everywhere you look, someone is talking to their phone.

Talking on their phone, yeah. Talking to their phone, not so much.

When out in public, I don't feel the need to "add to the noise" by asking my phone questions or telling it to do something.

Like, if I walk into a place that offers free Wi-Fi, I'm not gonna pull my phone out of my pocket and tell Bixby to turn on Wi-Fi. I'll just do that myself with a couple quick taps. And if I were trying to enjoy a meal or something and some nitwit at the next table is giving voice commands to his phone, it would definitely be a distraction at a minimum and a nuisance at most if he/she is persistent with it.

Using Bixby to make calls, send text messages or perform multiple system functions are great in the privacy of your own home or while driving, but not so much when in public. Jmo.

 

[WallaceD]

Bixby isn't terrible, but it's no Google Assistant.

Kudos to Samsung for making it very easy to turn off now. I just wish I could make the Bixby button a camera shortcut without having to jump through hoops.

 

[pdqgp]

Talking on their phone, yeah. Talking to their phone, not so much.

When out in public, I don't feel the need to "add to the noise" by asking my phone questions or telling it to do something. Like, if I walk into a place that offers free Wi-Fi, I'm not gonna pull my phone out of my pocket and tell Bixby to turn on Wi-Fi.

Do it as you or just before you exit your car. I have my command as "I'm getting out of car" It shuts down Waze, turns GPS on lower power mode, flips WiFi back on and turns my ringer to 50%.

Just the same when I get back in the car, it puts my GPS on high accuracy, shuts down wifi, opens Waze and puts my sounds at max volume.

 

[NYVET]

Yes. It is that bad.

 

[kevinpleasants]

Not its not bad

 

[Forgewizard]

ok, answer me this about Bixby...if you tell it to text a person, it always uses the person's last name in the text. Example "Text John Smith Are you home yet?", will result in sending John Smith a text that says "Smith are you home yet?". How are things like thus not fixed yet?

Try saying: send a text to John Smith, dictate: are you home yet?

Bixby should execute open the text to John Smith.

Then command dictate means input whatever follows dictate.

I am still in training with Bixby, so we are hit and miss with this exact process, especially when in the car.

But it gets better.

This helped me:

https://youtu.be/dwhF7rF52BY

 

[Forgewizard]

I'm just now getting into setting various quick commands and learning how to efficiently use Bixby, but I don't think I'd ever try to use it when out in public. Aside from the fact that talking to your phone probably looks stupid, I'd imagine that with all the background noises going on, trying to use Bixby would be an exercise in futility.

I set up some quick commands so that the phone can automate several tasks at one time and I think things like that will be pretty useful. In it's current state it could never fully replace the need to physically hold and navigate your phone, but so far I'm digging what it's doing.

It is a phone, a device designed to be spoken into. As long as your commands aren't way off the wall, it should not be odd to speak to a phone.

 

[reinbeau]

Yes. It is that bad.

Many of us disagree. I started out being told it sucked. Turned out the advice was wrong.

 

[edubb256]

Try saying: send a text to John Smith, dictate: are you home yet?

Bixby should execute open the text to John Smith.

Then command dictate means input whatever follows dictate.

I am still in training with Bixby, so we are hit and miss with this exact process, especially when in the car.

Thanks for this. Unfortunately for me, about half the time it puts the word "dictate" as first word of the message. I'm really giving this a try, but am coming to the conclusion it is just not ready for prime time.

 

[Climb14er]

Bixby has been a joke getting it to work properly and the hint notifications would not stop. Frankly, a waste of software bloat on the phone and the Bixby button, gets in the way of my left thumb while holding the phone. So far, the only negative with the phone after one month.

 

[vwite]

not that bad for me I got $50 in samsung points for asking my phone to create reminders, open apps and change settings a few times a day lol

 

[NYVET]

Many of us disagree. I started out being told it sucked. Turned out the advice was wrong.

Just my opinion in answer to the o/p question.

 

[ultravisitor]

And if I were trying to enjoy a meal or something and some nitwit at the next table is giving voice commands to his phone, it would definitely be a distraction at a minimum and a nuisance at most if he/she is persistent with it.

I mean, it's bad enough when loud talkers have phone conversations that everyone around them can hear and that actually drown out the music I'm trying to listen to with my headset.

 

[reinbeau]

Well, you can't fix stupid, rude people, all you can do is not be one. I would only use it say, driving, not when I have the phone in my hand and can use the controls.