You can’t do some cool things with Android 11, but you can with Android 12. Google is set to roll out Android 12, -allegedly called “Android Snow Cone”- internally later this year, making this unavailable for mainstream use, but the first and second developer preview has already been released giving a sneak peek into what the OS will feel/look like. Might be a little difficult to tell the difference between Android 11 and 12 unless you have the two side-by-side, but here are a few things to look at;
Things You Can Do With Android 12:
More Screenshot Markup Options:
With the new Android 12, you’ll be able to add text, Emoji, and stickers to your screenshots using the paintbrush tool. This update could help eliminate the need for a third-party app to do the same thing.
One-Handed Mode:
Among the design changes included in Android 12 is the one-handed mode which makes it easier to operate Android phones with one hand and the thumb. The updated settings UI is said to have the Search bar at the bottom of the display for easier one-handed access.
The new “silky home” feature also makes the interface a lot more suitable for one-hand use. With this feature, you don’t have to stretch your fingers to reach the top of your phone/app. The interface is designed such that the buttons are closer to the lower part of the screen. The feature is also said to give users more control over functionality, as it currently includes an option to leave the mode/timeout when you switch apps, returning the screen to normal after about 12 seconds.
Enhanced Privacy Features:
To provide a more secure experience for users, Google is updating its privacy features with Android 12. This will give users more transparency and control. While one update advances how apps export information to prevent them from accidentally exporting activities, services, and receivers, the other gives you more information about cookie usage across sites.
In comparison though, these policies are not as strict as Apple’s recent iOS software release, which tell people what personal data their apps are collecting. There’s also an upcoming change that requires developers to ask people for permission for data gathering and information tracking across apps and websites.
Redesigned Notifications:
Google played around with the notifications again this year by switching up the design of notifications making them more modern and functional. As noted by tech site XDA Developers, Android 12 comes with a new button that allows you to snooze unimportant notifications, choosing how long to do so.
Also, with Android 12, you’re taken directly to apps or actions you want to take instead of going through an intermediary service when you tap on a notification. This makes for a faster experience. You can also rearrange your notifications based on how you work with different apps by turning on adaptive notifications ranking. It also allows you to reset the ranking in a case where you don’t like it.
One-tap app pairs:
This feature is not so different from the traditional “split-screen” command that’s been available since Android 7. With the one-tap app pairs feature, the system would allow you to pair any two apps together and then with a single tap, have them open up on your screen at the same time. Seems like a way more user-friendly command.
Easier Wi-Fi sharing:
If you want to share your current Wi-Fi connection with someone in Android 11, you can easily create a QR code. This is quite different with Android 12, as with this, you can avoid the barcode scanning using the Nearby Share to share the Wi-Fi credentials to whomever you like, by just hitting the “Nearby” button you see underneath the QR code.
That’s not all, the feature makes for a much more convenient experience as it allows you to share the connection info with multiple people without having to go through the stress of passing your phone around.
AndroidWaves
