It is this time of year again. Google has updated its most recent version of Android: beta. Q. Your Android Police editors have been looking for new features, changes, improvements and even setbacks. We have listed everything we have found here, with a brief description of what is new. So, let's take a look at Android Q.

As always, we need to thank our tipsters () for our feature coverage. Without you all, our jobs would be much more difficult.

We have kept our general feature categories the same as last year, although they can be rearranged later if we determine that different groups make sense. And keep in mind that we always find new features, so this document may sometimes be a bit behind the cover of our series. As a result of a request I received last year, we have changed the format of these bundles of Android features to make them easier to track over time.

What's up?

Since yesterday, we have covered some additional changes in Android Q and modified some changes in some of our old covers. We still have a backlog of changes to make, so expect future updates.

  • The cloud icon backup arrow now indicates a more logical direction: the biggest novelty of Android Q, do not let this cloud fly away with all your valuable assets.
  • Art album for the lockscreen: Android has long been using album art for the Lockscreen screen background with a light blur, but from Android Q Beta 1, the blur is pretty crazy, and it does strange things to the colors. Certainly an acquired taste.
  • Haptic feedback for text selection: Expect a slight tingling as you slide around the input fields by selecting text.
  • Vibrations when connecting to the charger: the parameter "Charging sounds" is now "Charging sounds" and vibrations."You'll get some tactile feedback by plugging your phone into Q.
  • Most of your disabled notifications are now in a list: Android Q Beta 1 has added a filter to the Apps Notifications pane in Settings that makes it easier for you to locate application notifications that have been disabled. However, starting with Beta 1, this list does not include individual channels, but only an overall deactivation of the application.
  • New design information about the application, option to open the application itself, notification statistics, "Disable" becomes "Uninstall": under Android Q Beta 1, the pane of 39 application information has been slightly transformed, with icons and text newly centered. You can now open the application directly from it, the daily notification averages are displayed and Google has replaced "Disable" with "Uninstall" for system applications (and "Enable" has become "Install") . This process of pseudo-uninstallation no longer proposes to delete the updates of the applications.
  • New accessibility options extend the duration of toast notifications: the behavior of the two new parameters of "play time" and "action time" is a little inconsistent, but Android Q Beta 1a added options to create certain types of notifications, including activated messages with toast notifications action, last longer depending on your settings.
  • Revoke first-time permissions for apps targeting API levels (pre-Oreo): apps that have not updated to target Android 8.0 Oreo will create a new interstitial screen at launch that will ask you what permissions you want to activate, allowing you to manually disable those you do not want – and perhaps interrupt the application in the process.
  • Applications assigned to default roles will get more permissions: details are a bit sparse precisely which the permissions that each category gets, but the applications that you assign by default to a given role (browser, SMS application, launcher, and so on) get high access to certain functions based on that role.
  • Android Q Beta Feedback Application: We knew it would be there and … well, that's the case.
  • Ambient Display displays music information during playback: If your pixel plays music on Android Q Beta 1, Ambient Display displays details about the current track.
  • New feature indicators: Android Q Beta 1 added a literal stack of new feature indicators, including animation adjustments, these tips at the top of the settings menu, two new indicators that control the organization of items in other sections of parameters and two that control the previous parameters. discovering the Wi-Fi QR code setting and the audio output device.

The list

Fully new Q features

  • Theming: Android Q Beta 1 supports changing accent colors, fonts, and icon shapes, even if the selection is limited.
  • Estimating the remaining battery life in quick settings: Apple may have reacted to the reduction in battery capacity when refreshing its latest MacBook Pro by completely eliminating the estimate of the battery life, but Google brings this feature closer to the foreground in Android Q Beta 1, giving you this estimate in the nuance of the quick settings. (Only if you enable the battery percentage in the status bar.)
  • Sharing Wi-Fi details with QR codes: Agreed, QR codes did not take off at all when there was talk of sharing sites on posters or business cards but they have been used more in security. Android Q Beta 1 will allow you to generate, share and add network details, including SSID and password via QR codes. Long passwords can be secure, but they are also tedious, which solves the problem.
  • Global dark theme: it is incomplete, visually breaks several applications and the setting has been technically removed, but Android Q extends the previous device theme setting to apply the dark mode of Android Q to more features. However, the setting himself has been removed from beta 1, so you need to enable / disable it via ADB now.
  • Default categories for applications for call filtering and emergencies: Android, unlike iOS, will allow you to replace the default applications performing default actions with … everything you want, really. The default application category is expanding to include a "call filtering application" and an "emergency application", allowing you to set new third-party defaults for these two categories.
  • Native desktop mode: mobile convergence / workstation is a long-time dream (it's easy to fail), but Android Q Beta 1 introduced Google design, with a desktop-like user interface providing a Free form window management, although it clearly a work in progress.
  • Built-in Screen Recording: Bloggers around the world will be delighted to learn that Android Q Beta 1 comes with a built-in screen recorder. YMMV, however, some have reported bugs, while others have no problem.
  • Android Q Beta Feedback Application: We knew it would be there and … well, that's the case.

General visual changes

  • Rounded corners / screen notches in screen captures: Starting with Beta 1, Android Q displays both rounded corners on device screens like the Pixel 3, as well as the notch on the Pixel 3 XL. It may have been a mistake and we could see it go back, or it could be the norm for the future. Time will tell us.
  • Grayscale options for individual applications: we do not know what it will look like or how it can manifest because it is not yet available, but Google assures us that Android Q will eventually allow us to define individual grayscale applications – presumably on the outside the existing option for this via Digital Wellbeing's Wind Down setting.
  • The icon 'Bell & # 39; to indicate recent notifications: Google is talking about notification management recently and Android Q Beta 1 has introduced a new subtle feature that gives notifications a bell-like icon to indicate the person responsible for your recent interruption.
  • Ambient Display displays music information during playback: If your pixel plays music on Android Q Beta 1, Ambient Display displays details about the current track.

Editing existing features

  • A menu sharing faster and better quality (or at least less of less bad): one of the biggest assets of Android is also its weaknesses. The system of intentions that allows us to use any application for any purpose also gives rise to a rather slow sharing menu. Google said that it would solve the problem and it seems that is the case.
  • The slices will bring options settings to the applications: although they have not yet been used much, slices of Android are a clever way to integrate elements of an application. application to another. In Android Q, they now develop the application settings. You'll be able to control things like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other system-level settings from third-party apps. Snazzy.
  • Swipe left to pause notifications: Android 8.0 Oreo introduced the repetition notification, but in Android Q, it is much better integrated, supporting the left swipe action. If you had a habit of sliding in any direction to close the notifications, you will have to adapt to the right scan.
  • Deleting Accidental Items on the Pixel Launcher: The version of the Pixel Launcher provided with Android Q Beta 1 allows you to easily reset things if you accidentally delete a widget or icon from your home screen, with a "Cancel" option convenient in a type of toast. notification that appears after the wrong action.
  • Art album for the lockscreen: Android has long been using album art for the Lockscreen screen background with a light blur, but from Android Q Beta 1, the blur is pretty crazy, and it does strange things to the colors. Certainly an acquired taste.
    • It turns out that this is a bug with Play Music, other applications always have a flawless artistic blur.
  • Best and most beautiful application "Files": Android Q Beta 1 also provided an update of the application "Forgotten Files" built-in Android. The new is definitely "Hardware 2 / Theme", with some added file filtering features, as well as support for dark themes.
  • Long-time notifications: Filtering notifications are becoming more and more a priority lately, and Android Q improves the situation by offering a new option to handle these pressures, as well as an improved user interface compared to Android Pie .
  • Easier access to audio output switching: notifications being played back on Android Q make it easy to display to switch sound from one device to another (as, between the Bluetooth headphones / speakers and the device itself, etc.). This is not quite new since Android Pie allowed you to do it, but it was buried in the settings. Now, it's much more accessible.
  • Battery saver can turn on automatically depending on your habits: Battery Saver is part of Android for some time now, but Android Q Beta 1 adds a feature that you can enable that automatically triggers the mode of 39 energy saving if the phone believes that according to the phone. your usage habits, they may not last before charging time
  • eSIM becomes a dual SIM for pixels 2 and 3: Android Q Beta 1 supports dual SIM functionality limited on pixels 2 and 3, although it does not allow simultaneous use of both connections, but simply of the double standby dual. , rather than Dual SIM Dual Active.
  • Free form windows can be used without ADB: in what is probably related to the addition of desktop mode, free form window management becomes a leading citizen compared to the Nougat era version, with a switch between development options.
  • The cloud icon backup arrow now indicates a more logical direction: the biggest novelty of Android Q, do not let this cloud fly away with all your valuable assets.
  • Haptic feedback for text selection: Expect a slight tingling as you slide around the input fields by selecting text.
  • Vibrations when connecting to the charger: the parameter "Charging sounds" is now "Charging sounds" and vibrations."You'll get some tactile feedback by plugging your phone into Q.
  • New design information about the application, option to open the application itself, notification statistics, "Disable" becomes "Uninstall": under Android Q Beta 1, the pane of 39 application information has been slightly transformed, with icons and text newly centered. You can now open the application directly from it, the daily notification averages are displayed and Google has replaced "Disable" with "Uninstall" for system applications (and "Enable" has become "Install") . This process of pseudo-uninstallation no longer proposes to delete the updates of the applications.
  • New accessibility options extend the duration of toast notifications: the behavior of the two new parameters of "play time" and "action time" is a little inconsistent, but Android Q Beta 1a added options to create certain types of notifications, including activated messages with toast notifications action, last longer depending on your settings.
  • New feature indicators: Android Q Beta 1 added a literal stack of new feature indicators, including animation adjustments, these tips at the top of the settings menu, two new indicators that control the organization of items in other sections of parameters and two that control the previous parameters. discovering the Wi-Fi QR code setting and the audio output device.
  • Most of your disabled notifications are now in a list: Android Q Beta 1 has added a filter to the Apps Notifications pane in Settings that makes it easier for you to locate application notifications that have been disabled. However, starting with Beta 1, this list does not include individual channels, but only an overall deactivation of the application.

Privacy Settings

  • Modification of the authorization of confidentiality, changes of the application in the background: Android Q, starting from the beta 1, limits the access to non-modifiable device IDs such as the MAC address or IMEI, as well as additional editing permissions to provide options "only when the application is active" use, "rather than just a yes / no coverage." Background applications can not change focus suddenly to move forward.
  • Clipboard Managers are Dedicated: Although clipboard managers can provide utilities in some workflows, the permissions they rely on could be used surreptitiously by malicious applications, so undermining your privacy. Since Android Q, Google gives them startup. Only editors of input methods (keyboard applications, etc.) and foreground applications with focus have access to the Clipboard.
  • Revoke first-time permissions for apps targeting API levels (pre-Oreo): apps that have not updated to target Android 8.0 Oreo will create a new interstitial screen at launch that will ask you what permissions you want to activate, allowing you to manually disable those you do not want – and perhaps interrupt the application in the process.

Under the hood / API / developer

  • Dynamic depth data: Android Q will allow applications to request depth information from cameras. Google has done an incredible job extracting this information from its cameras (without the help of parallax, I would add), and under Android Q, even third-party applications will be able to use this additional data in a new and interesting way . I can not wait to see what is preparing.
  • ART Enhancements: Developers can enjoy improved performance and a more efficient garbage collection on Android Q via a suite of impressive but extremely technical Android runtime improvements.
  • Other depreciation of non-SDK APIs: Google does not want developers to use undocumented APIs in Android as much as possible, and Android Q reinforces this crackdown by expanding the list of APIs involved.
  • Foldable Phone Settings: Android Q will offer developer changes to better work with the new device form factor, but they are too technical to integrate.
  • Smart Home / IoT Settings for Wi-Fi Setup: Setting up gadgets for the smart home, which almost always require their own special application and peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connection, can be easier with Android Q. developers will be able to configure their configuration applications have a list of preferred SSIDs and are associated with the expansion of slots to offer a Wi-Fi switch built into these applications, which can make the configuration process often tedious IoT a little faster and easier for consumers.
  • Applications assigned to default roles will get more permissions: details are a bit sparse precisely which the permissions that each category gets, but the applications that you assign by default to a given role (browser, SMS application, launcher, and so on) get high access to certain functions based on that role.