Android Q is nearing a stable release, but there are still tidbits of new information surfacing. Back in July, when Google accidentally pushed an internal test build to the public, XDA Developers found hints that the latest OS version could support advanced customization options for Pixels. They should allow owners to choose clocks, styles, wallpapers, and more. In Beta 6, some users saw evidence that this could indeed end up in the final release when they got the Settings suggestion to "Customize your Pixel." Tapping it leads to the pre-installed wallpaper app for now, though.
Read MoreSmart Lock's 'Trusted Face' mode is broken on Android Q Beta 6, but there's a fix
All the way back in Android 5.0 Lollipop, Google added a 'Trusted Face' mode to Smart Unlock, giving all devices a slightly-secure way of unlocking with the front camera (the easily-fooled face unlock in Android 4.0 doesn't count). However, many people on the latest Android Q beta are having issues with it. If you're in that group, don't worry, there's a fix you can try.
Read MoreAndroid Q's Easter egg arrives in Beta 6, complete with hidden Picross puzzle
In years past, some of the Easter eggs hidden in major Android releases included a kitty collection game, a Flappy Bird clone with lollipops, and a Flappy Bird clone with marshmallows. Android Pie's Easter egg simply showed the letter 'P' with moving circles, but Android Q's is slightly more fun.
Read MoreHere's why Google thinks Android Q's gestures are a good idea
Much controversy has surrounded the new gesture navigation in Android Q. While some people love it, others prefer the old three-button layout (or depend on it due to impairments), and some even prefer Pie's two-button navigation. Google put a lot of thought into creating the new system, working together with OEMs, and is confident that its solution is the best. The company goes to great lengths to prove this with some statistics published in a blog post on Thursday.
Read MoreThe back gesture sensitivity option in Android Q Beta 6 does nothing to solve Google's gesture woes
Google decided to introduce a new version of gesture navigation in Android Q, which is an excellent idea. The 2-button gesture nav design from Pie was, let's face it, terrible. The new full gesture navigation system in Q has some good ideas, but the back gesture is a mess. Google's latest attempt to fix that in Beta 6 isn't going to be enough.
Read More[Update x2: Essential OTA] Google releases Android Q Beta 6 with last-minute gesture navigation tweaks
We're in the endgame now... for Android Q. The fifth beta release came out last month, but Google wanted to squeeze in one last update before the finished product. Android Q Beta 6 is now rolling out to Pixels in the beta OTA program, and flashable images should be available shortly.
Read More[Update: Now official, OnePlus 7 too] New Android Q Developer Preview silently appears for OnePlus 7 Pro
Over the weekend, OnePlus appears to have silently (accidentally?) rolled out its next Android Q Developer Preview for the OnePlus 7 Pro. Among the included features are new "super macro" and focus tracking settings for the camera, Digital Wellbeing, configurable Zen Mode duration, and new options for gesture navigation. Although the previous Developer Preview 3 landed for the OnePlus 7, 7 Pro, 6, and 6T all at once, for now only the 7 Pro appears to have Developer Preview 4 early.
Read MoreNokia 8.1 Android Q Beta 5 adds corner swipe gesture for Google Assistant
Participating in the latest betas is always a fun, but not risk-free endeavor. You get to try out things before anyone else and observe how a software evolves before it's released to the public. Android Q's gestures, for example, have seen several iterations across beta versions and now the most recent gestures are making their way to the Nokia 8.1 with the latest Beta 5.
Read MoreThe Best Of AP
Digital Wellbeing integrates with Chrome Canary to enable website usage limits
There have been previous reports that Digital Wellbeing would be coming to Chrome in Android Q, and we now know what this integration is going to look like. The least stable of the publicly available Chrome builds is the Canary channel and a recent update has added a flag that allows sharing of usage stats with the Digital Wellbeing app and also allows limits for individual sites.
Read MoreGoogle beefs up Android RCS APIs in preparation for third-party messenger support
Google's efforts to bring RCS to the world haven't been as inspiring as many of us had hoped, largely due to slow adoption by carriers and some self-serving behavior on the part of certain OEMs (cough). However, some of this can also be attributed to limits in Android itself. To use RCS today, you have no choice in app selection — you're stuck using apps provided by your phone's OEM, be it Google, Samsung, LG, or another partner. Earlier this year, it looked like Google had added code to Android Q that would enable third party apps to support RCS, but that was disputed shortly after.
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