technology

Samsung’s latest Good Lock module adds powerful new features to Bixby routines

 

Towards the end of April, the changelog for the Good Lock update hinted that we would receive a new module called Routine +. The name suggested that it would be associated with Bixby routines, and that assumption was correct. Routine + is now available and adds a host of experimental new features to Bixby.

This module works a little differently than the others. You can create new Bixby routines using the functions of the module itself, but they will also be available in the main app. Think of Routine + as a plugin that adds new functionality to Bixby Routines.

While the names of these new features suggest that they can only be used in a specific way, they are not. All of these can be mixed and matched against existing parameters in Bixby routines.

Location-based quick access allows you to change the action of double-pressing or long-pressing one of the physical keys on your phone depending on certain factors. Routine + uses location as an example, but you can edit it to use any of the existing triggers. The one I created detects when Spotify is open and then long pressing the volume buttons changes the track.

Launching a touch macro is one of the most interesting additions. When you select the app for which you want to record a macro, it will open the app and show a floating record button on the side of the screen. Tap the entry, then follow the steps you want to save. Stop recording and save it, then choose how you want the trigger to be.

One macro I created opens the Play Store, goes to the My Apps page, and clicks the install button. It’s not the best use case, but I couldn’t think of another to try.

Next, we have some S Pen integration, although it doesn’t currently work with the S21 Ultra as you need a Bluetooth stylus. Here you can assign different actions in the air to perform specific tasks. The module offers to assign gestures to the functions of the arrow keys, allowing you to scroll through web pages and move forward and backward.

As I said earlier, these can all be mixed and combined. I made a routine that detects when I am in Chrome and assigns scrolling up and down to long press the volume keys.

Fingerprint on the website allows you to choose what happens depending on which finger you use to unlock your phone. The name obviously suggests that you can do this to open the website, but it can be assigned to anything. The procedure I tried opens Telegram if I use my right index finger to unlock and it works very well. You can use the new Open Website Action with all existing triggers.

Finally, when your phone reaches a certain battery level, your phone will read out a phrase when it announces low battery. You can customize the spoken words as well as adjust the reading speed. Again, you can combine them however you like.

Routine + also makes it easy to share your creations with others. If the person is with you, you can configure the module to display a QR code that, when scanned, recreates the selected procedure on his device. If you are located elsewhere, you can export your routines as files for sharing via the cloud or any other messaging application.

Apart from the introduction of Routine +, QuickStar also received a small update today. The new Create Your Own Quick Panel menu features a small selection of preset themes applied across the theme park. Pressing the “+” will open the theme park editor, so this whole update really makes the two modules interact with each other.

Routine + requires One UI 3.1, so you should check if your device is compatible before installing. This new module as well as the updated QuickStar are now available in the Galaxy Store as well as APK Mirror (Routine +, QuickStar).

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