Samsung has delayed the launch of its new voice-activated personal assistant feature on its latest smartphone. Voice-powered assistant Bixby - which allows users to search and categorise photographs and information by using voice commands - was due to debut on the electronics giant's new Galaxy S8 smartphones as an answer to Apple's Siri. The South Korean company announced that the much anticipated Bixby feature was being dropped just days before the launch of the S8. Samsung's eagerly anticipated iPhone rival the Galaxy S8 (left) and Samsung Galaxy S8 (right) were launched at joint events in New York and London last month The global roll out of the phone will take place on 21 April. While Samsung did not give a reason for the delay, previous reports have suggested the software was lacking in the days ahead of its launch.

After months of leaks and countless rumours, the Samsung Galaxy S8 has been officially unveiled. The eagerly-awaited iPhone rival features a radical redesign to allow a massive 5.8-inch screen to be squeezed in to a device with a relatively small footprint. The device is one of two new phones with the S8 landing alongside the even larger 6.2-inch Samsung Galaxy S8 . Both feature facial recognition technology that allows users to unlock the phone with their face, and a Bixby'personal assistant' button. They are available for preorder on March 30th and will be shipping on April 21st.