© Courtesy of Android PoliceGoogle has only released the first batch of Android 13 features, but the company is already hard at work preparing the next update, which is scheduled for March 2023. That's right, the first beta version (QPR) of this Q2 version of the platform was released on December 12, 2022. Although Google didn't talk much about the news, some keen experts have seen what's going on behind the scenes and what's new. features will be provided accordingly.
Change the interface
The visual changes are the most noticeable so far, and some of the changes are available in QPR2 beta 1. The quick settings tiles in the notification area have been slightly raised and are now closer to the clock and date. If you zoom in by swiping down, you'll also notice that the clock increases in size as you swipe and the date scrolls down. The wireless service provider is also displayed above the status icons on the right instead of next to them
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Figure 1: Animation of the new media player. 2nd: A large clock in the notification bar.
Google can't stop customizing the media player in the notification bar, and Android 13 is no different from QPR2. The new version of Android adds a foggy album art that is used as the background of the media player when the player is first viewed. The animation fades out immediately after watching for a while, and doesn't respond at all to continuous playback, which makes us realize that it's still in development and not finished yet.
There is another important change (or bug) in the notification panel. If you swipe down without unlocking the screen, it shows a black background (even in light mode) and hides notifications completely silently. In previous versions of Android, silent notifications did not appear on the lock screen, but reappeared after a single swipe.
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First pair of images: Lock screen notifications. Pair 2: Home screen notifications.
Another feature that Google is working on in this version is the ability to run an app in full-screen mode if you've already clicked on the split-screen option. This is useful if you decide to use the app in split screen mode. For now, if you want to run it in full screen mode, you'll need to re-select the appropriate app from your last screen or home screen.
As spotted by 9to5Google, the QPR2 beta made changes to Pixel Launcher's icon density and icon padding. In folders, app icons are now clearer, making it harder to accidentally tap the wrong app icons on the home screen. Android 13 is also slightly larger than previous versions, with more space on the left and right. This also refers to the app launcher, which you can access by swiping anywhere on the home screen.
Another small UI change has been made to the battery health settings, first revealed in the QPR1 code. The dashboard shows you your battery details and initial capacity. For now, you'll get a green checkmark to let you know you're doing well, but the panel also offers helpful tips on how to extend your battery life.
Preparing for desktop mode
Esper Android expert Mishal Rahman found additional changes under the hood. As noted in December's roundup of Android 13 feature drops, it continues to work in hidden desktop mode, essentially only for developers testing multi-screen devices. When using desktop mode in this version of Android, a floating panel with options to minimize, maximize, switch to split screen, etc. will appear in a floating window or an arbitrarily shaped window. This clearly shows that the company is trying to prepare the mod for customers.
After some tweaking, Mishal Rahman enabled the mod and was able to show what these floating windows look like in action, as you can see below.
Partial screen sharing
Google is also still working on partial screen capture, which Rahman revealed this December. This option allows you to select a single window to record or broadcast, just as you can select individual tabs or windows to share in a video conference. On Android, you can choose single app and full screen access.
The new item is not the same material as yours
Another treat Rahman found is a new Material You track called "MONOKHROMATIC". It was not available at first, but managed to activate it with root. As you can tell from the name of the theme, this is one of the smartest options you can choose. It's similar to the SPRITZ option introduced in the first version of Android 13, a desaturated theme that already looks monochromatic, but takes it a step further with a pure black and white base. If you're not in tune with your material, this might be for you.
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This major update also fixes minor issues. Some people have reported that their scrolling issues on the Pixel 7 Pro have been fixed, which was not the case for them. There are also those who have lost access to the new unified security and privacy settings panel, with the way Google rolled out this option (using Google Play services instead of updates). Mishal Rahman has collected more beats for you.
- Google wants to add a low-vibration mode to the Pixel, perhaps to help devices with weak haptic engines.
- With this update, the Google Pixel 6 Pro gets the 1080p display that the Pixel 7 Pro already offers.
- Surround audio has been re-enabled on all supported Pixels (Pixel 6 through Pixel 7 series). You can listen to examples of surround sound videos on YouTube with surround sound turned on to hear the difference
- A new adaptive alert vibration option reduces the strength of notification vibrations when the phone is lying on a surface, although this feature is not yet operational and available.
- There's more evidence that Google is working on the software for its foldable Google Pixel Fold device, with a new setting that will be available for devices with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor (called Fold) that will allow you to unlock the phone. while the screen is on.
- Google plans to separate ringtone volume from notification volume. That's always been the case with older versions of Android, but Google has long since combined the two options on Pixel phones.
Join the Android 13 QPR1 beta testing program
If you have a Pixel phone, you can join QPR2's Android 13 beta testing program on the Android website. Here you need to select the "Browse for eligible devices" option to select the phone you want to enroll in the beta. As always, be aware that there may be bugs that directly break the way you use your phone. So be careful and only do without Pixel phone in case of emergency. If you prefer to download the beta, be sure to read how to install the Android 13 beta.
Updated: 12/14/2022 12:23 PM EST By Manuel Vonau
More features and details
The article has been updated with hidden quests and additional details about Android 13 QPR2 Beta 1.
