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Android 14 just revived a useful Bluetooth shortcut from 8.0 Oreo
Sooner or later, everything old is new again
Most Android updates add features, but Google, in its infinite wisdom, sometimes takes away useful functionality when it issues an OS upgrade — whether that's to usher in a new design philosophy or just to tidy up the AOSP code base is another question. We'll give Google the benefit of the doubt and assume the former when it comes to why the company decided to axe the mini-menus that used to appear when you tapped the "Bluetooth" or "Wi-Fi" label under the associated Quick Settings tile. This functionality was removed with Android 9.0 Pie, but it's finally back with the Android 14 QPR2 Beta 3 update that just dropped today.
Quick settings toggles get some cute new animations in Android 13 QPR1 Beta 1
A small touch, but an appreciated one
After a month without any early software worth testing, Google returned yesterday with Android 13 QPR1's first beta. It's a release chock full of secrets, from upcoming improvements to phone calls to hidden animations previewing future hardware. Of course, there are also a handful of smaller changes as Google continues to build on the groundwork first laid with Android 13's stable launch last month, including some new animations found in quick settings.
How to adjust the flashlight brightness on your Samsung Galaxy phone
Just a few steps to the right intensity
Over the past several years, smartphones have all but replaced the household flashlight. Just about everyone in the US owns a cellphone, and most of them even have their phone within arm's reach at bedtime. When the lights go out, or you need to look in a dark corner, there's no need to dig through your kitchen's junk drawer in hopes of finding a flashlight with working batteries; your smartphone is the perfect substitute.
Android 13 allows app developers to promote their own Quick Settings tiles
A great tool for discovering new features or a future source of spam?
Google introduced the Quick Settings panel to Android almost a decade ago with the release of 4.2 Jelly Bean, and there have been many evolutions over the years since. Despite opening the API to custom tiles in Android 7.0 Nougat, app developers have had a hard time getting users to add third-party tiles to the Quick Settings panel. With Android 13, Google is looking to streamline the experience so users have a chance to discover new tiles and get more use from their apps.
Android 12's revamped Internet tile lets you switch between Wi-Fi or mobile networks anywhere
Quick tap the Quick Settings tile to switch networks, long tap to dive into the full Settings menu
With the latest beta of Android 12, Google is diving deep into some of its more substantive interface changes. One is the new "Internet" Quick Settings tile, which replaces both Wi-Fi and mobile (5G/LTE/3G) connection tiles. This one opens up a pop-up menu of local connections, allowing the user to quickly swap between them.
Android 12 adds power menu shortcut to quick settings
Giving you another way to turn your phone off with the long-press Assistant enabled
Android 12 Beta 2 is now rolling out, and among the highlighted changes are a few Google didn't announce, like a new power button in the quick settings menu. It gives fast access to Beta 2's redesigned power menu, which is pretty convenient if you switch to the new iPhone-style "Hold for Assistant" that changes a long-press of the power button to trigger the Google Assistant.
Google is finally fixing the awful notifications on Chrome OS
A revamped UI and notification grouping are in the works
It's no secret that notifications have been a usability nightmare for Chromebooks. The touch-centric cards are cumbersome and unintuitive to manage with a mouse — the lack of proper grouping and polish further hurts usability. Even worse, developers have done nothing to fix the awkward notification center on Chrome OS, leaving it in an unpolished state for years. But now it seems like Google is finally realizing that notifications on Chromebooks are a hot mess, and it's finally getting ready to fix its lackluster implementation.
Android 12 Beta 1 changes the way you'll set your alarms for the next day
All 30 of them, to make sure you get out of bed on time
While some modern options exist for replacing your aging alarm clock, most of us have made the switch to waking up with our phones. Android's default clock app is a great way to wake up in the morning, alongside dozens of great apps available on the Play Store. Thanks to a new quick settings tile in Android 12 Beta 1, adding and modifying alarms is about to get a whole lot easier.
Tasker 5.12.21 automates your nightly routine and can interact with your quick settings tiles
But only with tiles from third-party apps
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Tasker is any power user's best friend, with countless ways to automate your daily routines. Last week's update allowed the app to take advantage of Android's new Sleep API, so you can get ready for bed without lifting a finger. Tasker isn't slowing down in momentum, though. Not only does today's update fix several bugs introduced in the last version, but the app can now interact with your phone's quick settings tiles.
Android 12 will tell you your Wi-Fi is on while also telling you your Wi-Fi is on
DP3 will tell you quick settings toggle states, and a major redesign may also be in the works
Google can't seem to stop changing its quick settings panel on Android. Last year's OS reduced the number of toggles available on-screen at once from nine to six to make room for a controversial new media player. While Android 12 doesn't look to replace its missing quick settings row, it includes some extra context with each tile to display whether it's on or off, above and beyond the color cues currently provided.
Android 12 lets you limit which apps will display media controls in Quick Settings
NO, YouTube. You do NOT get to clutter up my Quick Settings with your controls
Last year Android 11 gave us a new way to control what's playing on our phones, with the introduction of a media playback interface that lived up in the Quick Settings panel. While its development (to say nothing of its arrival) was a bit rough, having those prominent controls sure proved to ultimately be a very useful addition. Now with Android 12 DP1 arriving to give us an early taste of what's next, we're starting to see some new functionality arrive for the media controls.
More Android 12 UI changes are coming, including some 'Material NEXT' tweaks
An evolution in Material Design
XDA is on a tear today, releasing piles of details divined about the upcoming Android 12 release. Among those planned is a general UI refresh for Android 12, seemingly overdue given the dialed-back changes in Android 11 last year. Beyond the new theming tweaks that have already been discussed, we can look forward to some lock screen tweaks (including adjustments to the Pixel's always-on display), notification and Quick Settings panel adjustments, an unknown "letterboxing" feature for framing apps inside a window, dynamic splash screens, and more, including an abstract "Material NEXT" aesthetic beyond current Material Theme designs.
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Android 11 has been stable for a bit, and while it brought many improvements to the table, there are also a few regressions. One of these is a small but significant change to the quick settings tiles. Compared to earlier versions of the OS, Android 11 only displays two rows instead of three, even when the new media player isn't in use.
The best Android power user features you may have forgotten about
These settings may have slipped your mind, but they're still worth checking out
With over a decade under its belt, Android has built a long history as Google's mobile operating system. And in that history are dozens of little features, changes, and updates that have added, removed, or modified aspects of that OS in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. But for every new option Google brings to Android, we're probably forgetting one that been in there for years that we've simply not bothered to use in a while. And in some cases, these are pretty genuinely useful things!Remember you can use two fingers to swipe down for quick settings? Screen pinning? Lock screen messages? Well, we've got those and a pretty good handful of others that may have fallen by the wayside on your phone.
Mi Control Center app brings iOS design to your quick settings panel
Customize your notification and quick settings panels with colors, images, and more
Android may be more functional than iOS for most users when it comes to notifications, but you have to admit there's a level of polished elegance to Apple's panel and control center. Some users might even prefer the translucent design and separated notifications and quick toggle pages. If you're one of those people, or just interested in trying out iOS on your Android device, a new app from Treydev might be worth a look.
These new media control tweaks were first spotted all the way back with the very first Android 11 developer preview in February. At the time, the changes were hidden and had to be manually enabled, but a new version of those same controls has finally landed as part of a hidden developer flag in Android 11 Beta 1.
Gmail on the web gets its biggest settings overhaul in years
Revamped quick settings menu puts popular options within easy reach
Gmail’s desktop interface has got a whole bunch of customization options — some from its early days and others that were introduced as part of the more recent Material facelift. But it has never been easy to find them in the complex maze that is Gmail's main settings. Thankfully, Google is fixing that somewhat with a new quick settings menu that's more accessible and brings all those scattered features together in one place.
OnePlus still makes using Android 10's dark mode needlessly annoying
Where's my dark mode toggle, OnePlus?
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Ever since the company's short-lived relationship with Cyanogen, Inc. collapsed, OnePlus has shipped a custom build of Android called OxygenOS on its phones. It's generally regarded as one of the best manufacturer skins, since it adds useful features on top of stock Android, while not modifying the core Android experience (which can sometimes break apps). However, there is one aspect of OxygenOS that is a clear regression compared to stock Android: dark mode.
Funky Android 11 experiment moves audio controls to quick settings
No more playback controls in your notifications
The first Android 11 developer preview landed yesterday. We keep finding tons of new features in it, which you can check out in the widget above. There are also some hidden changes not activated out of the box, and our friends over at XDA Developers stumbled upon one of these. They've managed to put audio controls into the quick settings panel above the notifications, making media playback instantly accessible no matter how many messages you receive.
We've been using Android Q for a few months already, but we're still coming across some minor and unexpected changes in our favorite OS. Take for example the Quick Settings and notification area. It was redesigned from Oreo to Pie, then again from Pie to Q, and one of those changes involves a few invisible, but very confusing, shortcuts.