3 Great Google Pixel Features Perhaps Forgotten Google finalizes Android 12 on October 19, 2021 (the same day Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro were announced) after almost six months of beta. The mobile operating system has undergone the largest dramatic visual overhaul since Material Design began in 2014. The company also has a wide range of new user-centric features, with less noticeable but significant changes introduced in the release and major upgrades. Compared to the previous generation. I had the opportunity to see these features during the beta program, but now I have a stable version.
Currently, Android 12 is only available on Google Pixel smartphones. The 2018era Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are the oldest devices compatible with Android 12. If you have a Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, or Pixel 5a, you can download the new version. Some phones from manufacturers such as Asus, OnePlus and Samsung are participating in the beta program, but it’s not yet clear when these devices will receive Android 12 from their respective OEMs. In most cases, Android 12 should work fine on your device without any major issues.
Contents
Google’s you-focused design
Material You is Google’s new design language for 2021. The company has rethought the entire user interface, perhaps the biggest visual transformation Android has ever received. Google says Android 12 is their “most personal operating system ever.” The platform now includes dynamic, changing colours and new animations with touch. Google has redesigned many of its widgets to focus on humans and also incorporates more accessibility tools to help people with visual impairments.
The first thing you notice is the change in colour
Google has moved away from the bold primaries that defined Android in the past. It replaced them with softer, often translucent pastel colours. However, the real secret was to automatically match system-level colours (widgets, drop-down menus, animations, buttons, notifications, etc.) with the colours of the selected background image. In theory, this is a good idea. Because you (probably) really like the wallpaper colour you choose. What is the reality?
You have more control than you think. When you select a wallpaper, you have several options for the colour scheme that appears in your phone’s Background and Style menu. I like flexibility and choice, and colour combinations are almost endless, if not always attractive. Is this the biggest design revolution that has ever reached a smartphone? Not necessarily. But it opens up new ways to personalize the look of your phone. It can give courage to some people.
What’s more, the UI colour changes each time you move the wallpaper, so you can keep things fresh. On the other hand, some users may find the new colour scheme boring or otherwise unsuitable for their tastes. Also, not all apps have automatic colour capabilities. For example, you can choose to have your app’s icon use the common colours of the rest of the user interface. Third-party apps that do not enable this feature will retain their original colour and design and destroy a uniform look.
More control than ever
Google states that it designed Android 12 based on user security ideas. The way apps and users interact with key privacy features has been redesigned to give you more control over your data and devices. With Android 12, you can easily see that the app is using a microphone or camera and a new indicator is displayed in the status bar. They are bright green, appearing for a moment and then shrinking to small, hard-to-see spots that cannot be overlooked. I want to keep the large icon visible. If you want to revoke app access to the mic or camera, or just turn them off, you can do so thanks to the new toggle in Quick Settings.
This feature can immediately reassure you if you’re worried that your app may be spying on you. Location approval has been given a useful feature. With Android 12, you can allow your app to access the exact or approximate location. It’s easy to give Google Maps this permission for this type of activity. However, in most cases, the latter will suffice.
