Google has already had a wild sufficient day with the disclosing of its new {hardware} line-up, however they apparently weren’t glad with simply that. To prime off the day, Google has launched Android 16 QPR2 with a primary Beta 1 construct for all of its present Pixel units which might be nonetheless receiving updates, from the Pixel 6 up via the Pixel 9. I’d think about the Pixel 10 collection will likely be added subsequent week.
What’s new in Android 16 QPR2: For these maintaining monitor, however could also be confused, this can be a model new Android Beta Program. We now have been testing Android 16 QPR1 for months and anticipate it to go secure in September as a giant quarterly replace with a Pixel Characteristic Drop alongside it. What now we have right this moment is Android 16 QPR2, which is the subsequent main replace that received’t go secure till December. In different phrases, the December replace of Android 16 might be in your Pixel machine right this moment.
There seems to be a ton of latest stuff and we’re updating our Pixel 9 Professional proper now to get some visuals on all of it. However as that course of takes perpetually (optimizing!), you may view Google’s personal changelog of the brand new stuff beneath. We’re already seeing huge information on darkish theme, auto-themed app icons, extra haptic controls, fast settings modifications, and a bunch extra.
UI, System Expertise, and Accessibility
- Expanded Darkish Theme
- Auto-Themed App Icons
- Interactive Chooser Periods
- Smoother Android Migrations
- PDF Doc Annotation and Enhancing
- Show Topology API
- Gadget-aware View Configuration
- Granular Haptic Suggestions Management
- Fast Settings Tile Classes
Media & Audio
- IAMF Decoding Help
- Private Audio Sharing in Output Switcher
- New AAudio APIs
- HDR/SDR Brightness Slider
Connectivity
- Companion Gadget Administration Enhancements
- MediaRouter Community Privateness Enhancements
Privateness & Safety
- Safe Lock Gadget
- Telephone Theft Safety Toggle
Developer Productiveness
- Widget Engagement Metrics
- Early Warnings for 16KB Web page Measurement Compatibility
- Enhanced Profiling
- Extra Strong Multi-Show Testing
Up to date icon theming in QPR2
We now have QPR2 up and operating and the very first thing we checked out was this supposed “Auto-Themed App Icons.” From what we’re seeing, Google has added a “Minimal” possibility that applies icon themes to these with true assist, whereas including a contact of coloration to people who don’t. You possibly can see this finest within the far proper screenshot, the place apps like Pokemon Go and FordPass have a blue tint, however not the total theme.
Google has additionally added an possibility for “Create,” but it surely at present responses with a faucet by saying that an “App Isn’t Put in.” I’ll take that as an indication that Google will rollout some kind of icon theming app with QPR2 in some unspecified time in the future to allow us to absolutely customise shapes of icons.
Expanded Darkish Theme
Google has added a brand new “Expanded” possibility in the dead of night theme settings space that “Mechanically applies Darkish theme to extra apps for improved accessibility.” Since most apps have darkish themes already, I used to be attempting to think about the place this may apply…after which it hit me! The f*cking Fitbit app that Google has refused so as to add a darkish theme too. In fact, they’re lastly including it in a giant October refresh, however should you run QPR2 right this moment, you may apply it your self.
Enhanced HDR Brightness
A brand new brightness possibility has entered the Show settings space known as “Enhanced HDR Brightness.” On my Pixel 9 Professional, this setting will “Brighten and broaden the colour vary and readability in Excessive Dynamic Vary (HDR) photographs and movies.” It additionally says that “HDR content material will seem brighter.” And that’s true – if you find yourself on this space, your display screen brightness will get all bizarre and it applies a brightness enhance to the HDR picture proven. Google is letting you regulate the depth of this, so if it appears off, play with that slider.
Widgets are again on the Lock Display screen in QPR2
Lock Display screen widgets are again! In Android 16 QPR2, Google added a toggle in lock display screen settings (Show & contact>Lock display screen) to permit “Widgets on lock display screen.” As soon as enabled, a widget panel will stay off to the correct facet of your lock display screen. You possibly can swipe over, lengthy press, after which edit or add new widgets to it.
Do notice that Google warns of an absence of privateness with these widgets. In truth, they level out that “anybody can view them” by swiping over to the widgets panel. Nonetheless, these may come in useful for fast bits of information like we had lengthy, way back.
We’ll replace this if there are different noteworthy modifications.
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