With its flip smartphone, Samsung is essentially forcing users to create an account
Anyone who wants to take full advantage of Galaxy AI on their Samsung smartphone, for example, the generative tools for photo and video editing, needs a cloud connection. To access these servers, Samsung requires users to have a registered account, partly for security and identification purposes. This seems reasonable.
However, anyone who wants to use their Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 without a Samsung account faces a problem: the “MultiStar” app is not available in the Google Play Store. This powerful add-on tool makes it possible to display up to 50 additional apps on the 4.1-inch outer display instead of being limited to just a few of Samsung’s own apps. This functionality should be available out of the box on this $1,200 phone (available on Amazon.com).
Only after users access the Galaxy Store and install MultiStar can the external display show messaging apps like WhatsApp, streaming services like Spotify, or Google Maps directly on the cover screen. Out of the box, only a handful of Samsung-approved apps are supported.
Key features of this compact Android smartphone are only available with a Samsung account
The “MultiStar” app bypasses these restrictions and allows virtually any Android app to run on the small front screen. The catch, however, is that MultiStar is available exclusively through Samsung’s own Galaxy Store. The Galaxy Store blocks all downloads unless an active Samsung account is linked to the Flip 8. Anyone who chooses not to use this separate manufacturer account, whether for reasons of privacy or convenience, will be unable to access this key feature of the Flip 8.
Although Samsung has integrated some optimizations natively into the system with the new One UI 9 user interface, support for third-party apps on the outer display remains in “Labs” status. This artificial ecosystem restriction raises some concerns.
You can find all benchmark data and further information on the new Galaxy Z Flip 8 in Notebookcheck’s review.
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Review: Galaxy Z Flip 8
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