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Happy days in Australia! TouchWiz dock can finally be customized

Happy days in Australia! TouchWiz dock can finally be customized

Posted: 13 Jun 2014, 03:12, by Alan F.

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Tags : Samsung -Samsung + Android -Android + Software updates -Software updates +

From the Samsung Galaxy S III up until now, the TouchWiz dock was fixed in Australia

For some strange reason that Samsung has never explained, the TouchWiz dock has been locked down in Australia, starting with the Samsung Galaxy S III. In the most remote of Islands, users can customize the TouchWiz dock to add Chrome, a third party SMS app, or a third party camera app. But the poor TouchWiz users in Austraia have been blocked from being able to do this, stuck with the Phone, Contact, Messages, and Internet icons, in that order.

We're happy to report that those days of tyranny are gone in Australia. A new update has been sent out, and while it isn't clear yet exactly which models will receive it, those that do will now have a customizable TouchWiz dock. Apparently, at least one of the handsets receiving the update is the Samsung Galaxy S5.

Previously, Samsung owners in Australia had to turn to third party launches, such as Nova Launcher, available from the Google Play Store. But there are many who would rather load the update from Samsung. If you're on Wi-Fi, you might receive a notification to update your phone to receive the new (in Australia) feature. Otherwise, you can try to coax it out of your phone by going to Setting Menu > About Device >Software update. After all, why should Australians miss out on the fun that the rest of the planet is having?

source: TechRadar

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16 Comments

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posted on 13 Jun 2014, 03:27 4

1. Miracles (Posts: 560; Member since: 31 Aug 2013)

Thats odd, someone was on too much "koolaid" down there.

posted on 13 Jun 2014, 03:37 1

2. uchihakurtz (Posts: 404; Member since: 12 Nov 2012)

It must've had something to do with the people being upside down in Australia, lol JK. I noticed how you can't change the dock too on my Dad's Vodafone Galaxy S2. The Launcher customization is weird compared to my Ace 2.

posted on 13 Jun 2014, 03:40 3

3. Cyberchum (Posts: 753; Member since: 24 Oct 2012)

They mad or what? Even apple dock can be customized.

posted on 13 Jun 2014, 03:47 3

4. Jason2k13 (Posts: 1311; Member since: 28 Mar 2013)

samsung trolling us aussies?

posted on 13 Jun 2014, 03:49

5. nlbates66 (Posts: 328; Member since: 15 Aug 2012)

yes this was retarded, not long after I got my S III 4G though put a different region firmware on it to get rid of the optus rubbish.

posted on 13 Jun 2014, 03:59 2

6. FingerMyApple (unregistered)

fandroid finally break the cage of rectriction, so much freedom now :)

posted on 13 Jun 2014, 04:18 3

8. ArtSim98 (Posts: 3535; Member since: 21 Dec 2012)

You're having much fun lately.

posted on 13 Jun 2014, 04:58 8

10. shuaibhere (Posts: 1986; Member since: 07 Jul 2012)

All of sudden ifans started to talk customisation, freedom now...
Which meant nothing to them before...

posted on 13 Jun 2014, 04:00

7. Krjal (Posts: 280; Member since: 19 Dec 2013)

God that was stupid. I mean I pretty much used custom roms from day 1 on my s3 but I had plenty of mates using stock Samsung with this problem. Made it hard to recommend versus HTC and LG recently.

posted on 13 Jun 2014, 04:54

9. dtn_93 (Posts: 5; Member since: 08 Jun 2014)

I flashed custom software on my Galaxy S III when I first got it, never noticed this.

posted on 13 Jun 2014, 05:01 3

11. gigaraga (Posts: 1454; Member since: 29 Mar 2013)

Strange. Australia has the most strict operations on Samsung devices, especially the part where the shutter sound can't be turned off (true for my European Note 3 - annoying...really annoying) and now the dock can't be changed? Glad I'm not in Australia...

posted on 13 Jun 2014, 05:20

12. hassoups (Posts: 473; Member since: 06 Jun 2013)

S3,note 2 and note 3 and now s5 and I've never had nor heard of a problem like this. Might be something in other territories.

posted on 13 Jun 2014, 05:20

13. hassoups (Posts: 473; Member since: 06 Jun 2013)

S3,note 2 and note 3 and now s5 and I've never had nor heard of a problem like this. Might be something in other territories.

posted on 13 Jun 2014, 05:55 2

14. WinC76 (unregistered)

Australian Samsung Galaxy phones are the worst. They've had so many downgrades compared to the rest of the world. A lot of these came into action after the lawsuit with Apple a few years ago where Apple won.

After that, we've had the dock locked down to those 4 icons. You can't just simply move shortcuts or widgets just by press and hold, you have to press the menu button then press edit then be able to cutomise the homescreen stuff. Last of all, you cannot auto rotate on the gallery app, you have to rotate your phone, then press the rotate button on the corner.

Samsung Australia currently also has a horrible reputation with updates. None of the 2013 and older Galaxy phones (S4, Note II and 3 for example) even has the Kit Kat update yet and none of the carriers have even received the test firmware yet which makes you question what's wrong with Samsung down here.

But I'm glad they're finally allowing you to modify the dock.

posted on 13 Jun 2014, 06:31 2

15. amiaq (Posts: 509; Member since: 30 Jun 2012)

Too little too late Samsung, I'm digging Sony now. My note 2
Can be repurposed as a gps unit.

posted on 13 Jun 2014, 12:10

16. Stuntman (Posts: 839; Member since: 01 Aug 2011)

Wow. That is just stupid.

It wouldn't have affected me anyway. I use Nova Prime and I remove the dock completely.