Android 12: Everything you need to know and more!!

Android 12 is unmistakably on its way. At Google I/O 2021, Google finally showed off some of the important new features and design upgrades, and Android 12 could be the most significant update to Android in a long time.

Although Android 12 isn’t expected to be launched to the general public until September, the first three betas of the operating system are now accessible to adventurous users and developers who have a suitable phone.

So far, here’s all we know about Android 12.

What new features does Android 12 include?

We didn’t know much about Android 12 during the Developer Preview phase, but now that public betas are out, we have a pretty clear idea of what the next operating system will be like. And there’s quite a bit of it. Android 12 is a major design overhaul that includes a raft of new features and dashboards, among other things.

The following is a list of Android 12’s new features:

Refreshing the look

The design revamp is by far the most significant change in Android 12. Buttons are larger and bolder, everything has broad, rounded corners, and Google isn’t as worried with taking up more screen real estate. It appears like Android 12 is more concerned with maximizing space rather than trying to cram more into it.

These larger symbols appear to be applicable to almost every aspect of Android 12. Everything is mostly the same, but the Settings menu options, Quick Settings panel, sliders, and other elements are all much bigger, bolder, and more colorful. Even the lock screen has received a makeover: when there aren’t any notifications, the clock takes up most of the screen, and even when there are, it’s large enough to see at a look.

In Android 12, there are a few minor changes to animations and motion. When you press the power button, for example, an animation appears that illuminates the display from the button itself. It’s a nice addition.

You have a lot of material

New theming options are available in conjunction with the design overhaul. It’s called “Material You” by Google, and it basically draws color cues from your wallpaper. Primary colors and what Google refers to as “complementary” colors are among them. The theming is system-wide, and third-party developers can use it to integrate their programs for a more cohesive look.

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Parts of Material You was released in June as part of Android 12 Beta 2, while the Pixel Launcher was released in Android 12 Beta 3.

The shade of notification has been updated.

Google has rearranged various components of Android as part of the all-new design refresh, and the notification shade, as is customary on Android, gets one of the most significant changes. Quick Settings, for example, are increasingly easier to use: on the initial swipe of the notification shade, you’ll be able to activate four of your most-used Quick Settings in the shape of reasonably large rectangular buttons. Then slide once more to access all of your Quick Settings.

This new Quick Settings tab will also include Android’s Power Menu. That means you’ll be able to access your smart home controls and Google Pay wallet from the Quick Settings menu while pressing and holding the power button will activate Google Assistant instead. Android 12 Beta 2 brought this modification to Beta testers.

A new Internet Panel for managing your connectivity is another little change Google is making. It’s also supposed to make it easier for consumers to troubleshoot problems and move between providers faster, whether they’re using Wi-Fi or mobile data, according to Google. Beta 2 included this adjustment as well.

New privacy controls have been implemented.

The general population is becoming more aware of privacy issues, and Android 12 has various privacy-enhancing features. The new Privacy Dashboard is the most prominent of these since it displays a variety of information about the permissions you’ve allowed to each app and allows you to cancel individual access if desired. You’ll also get details on how permissions were used, including a history of when apps accessed your location.

In terms of location, Android 12 adds greater location permissions. You can also grant apps “approximate” location rather than “precise” location, which is useful for weather apps.

There are also other privacy-related features. When your microphone, camera, or clipboard are used, there are now indicators, just like on iOS. To protect your privacy, new toggles under Quick Settings allow you to turn off the camera and microphone.

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Other components of your data are also being worked on by Google. The Android Private Computer Core is a new feature in Android 12. It’s a component of Android that handles features like Smart Reply, Live Captions, and other artificial intelligence-related capabilities that deal with sensitive data.

The Android 12 Beta 2 included the Privacy Dashboard

Remote control for Android TV

You may use an Android TV device in conjunction with your Android phone if you’re part of the Android ecosystem, and Android 12 now includes a built-in control for Android TVs. The feature will work with Chromecast with Google TV or TVs with Android TV integrated in, and will provide basic software controls, Google Assistant access, and volume controls.

You didn’t have to install an app to use your phone as a remote for your Android TV before, and you won’t have to do so now.

Improved compatibility with Chrome OS

Nearby Transfer can already be used to share photographs between an Android phone and a Chromebook, but Google is working on removing some of the friction. Google says Chrome OS’ Phone Hub will get a new feature that lets you view images on your Android phone without having to wait for them to upload to the cloud. Wi-Fi Direct is responsible for this feature.

Screenshots scrolling

Scrolling screenshots are a feature that has previously been advertised by third-party Android phone manufacturers. With Android 12 Beta 3, scrolling screenshots are now natively supported, allowing you to show more content in a single screenshot. You may now use the new “grab more” button that appears when you take a screenshot to capture a long twitter thread, for example.

Android 12 Beta 3 brought this with it.

Device-based search

Google’s universal search on Android 12 is also getting better. Developers may now index elements of their apps so that when users enter in search terms, the Google search bar can pull up app information. It was previously discovered in Android 12 development releases, but this is the first time Google has highlighted it in a beta release. If all goes well, Google may release Android 12 with an iOS-style spotlight search feature, which has been missing from the OS. With Android 12 Beta 3, this feature was also added.

Autorotation that is more fluid

A simple function – autorotate — is also being improved by Google. With Android 12, the operating system will try to keep itself focused by looking at your face. This use case is for those who use their phones while lying down or in bed, and Google says it won’t store any photographs recorded this way because it’ll be using its “Secret Compute Core” approach to keep everything private.

So far, Android 12 Beta 3 is only accessible on the Pixel 4 and later.

Downloads of mobile games are now much faster.

With Google’s new “play as you download” function, gaming on an Android device will be much faster. Android phone gamers will be able to start a game as it is being downloaded, similar to how you can do on some consoles, according to an announcement made at the Google Games Developers Conference. Android 12 Beta 3 brought this modification.

When will I be able to get Android 12?

Google has disclosed the Android 12 road map, but no firm date for when the operating system will be delivered to the general public. New Android versions are usually released in September, and based on Google’s roadmap, that appears to be the case this year.

We must, however, go through the beta process before the consumer version of Android 12 is released. There are two stages to this: developer previews and beta releases.

We’re nearing the end of the beta testing period. The initial Developer Preview of Android 12 was published in February, followed by releases in March and April. Only one more consumer beta is planned for August, after the first three have already been released. This should help Android 12 achieve “Platform Stability.” The final release of Android 12 for the general audience is scheduled in September.

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Of course, just because the consumer version of Android 12 is available doesn’t guarantee you’ll get it immediately soon — or at all. The update will first be available for Google Pixel phones and a few other devices, but it is unclear when it will be available on other phones. If your phone runs on a stripped-down operating system like OxygenOS or Motorola’s My UX, it might get it first. Samsung’s One UI, for example, has been extensively modified, and it may take some time for the business to develop and implement a unified interface that adheres to both One UI and Android 12’s design principles.