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The Android 12 Beta is Google's most popular ever — so what are you waiting for to try it out?
The Material You redesign could be responsible for this
Android 12 is decidedly the most significant update that the operating system has received in the last few years. While there are a lot of changes to parse through, the most notable one has been the new Material You design that has given a complete facelift to the interface. It could also be a major reason why a record number of Pixel users have rushed to be a part of the Android 12 beta program.
Google backtracks on Android 12's new ripple effect after users confuse it for a bug
It's intended behavior, but not everyone is happy about it
Wide-ranging visual changes are arriving with Android 12, all part of Google's brand-new Material You design system. Reactions to this have, on the whole, been pretty positive, but there are some aspects of it that aren't quite so popular. Animations are getting a lot of attention, since they've remained unchanged for so long, and the new ripple effect, in particular, isn't going down so well.
Android 12's game mode shows its face in Beta 1, but you still can't use it
It might be exclusive to Pixels
Gaming phones have been a thing for a while — check out the ROG Phone 5 for the best example of what they can do — but Google hasn't really contributed in this area up to now. However, with Android 12, it's shipping a gaming mode that should improve the experience on non-gaming phones.
Android 12 Beta introduces support for Bluetooth LE Audio
Your next Bluetooth headphones will last longer on a charge with Android 12
Android 12 news is coming fast and furious at the moment, but one of the smallest changes introduced in Beta 1 might make life a little easier for fans of Bluetooth headphones. The beta introduced support for Bluetooth LE Audio, a low-energy, high-efficiency mode for headphones and other audio devices. The API support is live now: if your headphones support LE Audio, they should use it automatically when connecting.
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.
App hibernation is live in Android 12 Beta 1
You can try it out now, and by now, we mean in a few months
Most smartphone users have at least a few apps that they've installed, played around with for a day or so, and then entirely forgotten. These apps are using up precious storage and CPU cycles, so Google's been working on a way to get rid of them in a more subtle way. It's called app hibernation, and we've heard about it as an Android 12 feature for a while. Apparently it's live in the Android 12 beta released yesterday.
Deceptive (toast) notifications will be... toast in Android 12
Toasts get a smattering of Material You, too
Android 12's visual changes are significant, to say the least. As Googlers pointed out repeatedly during the first few I/O 2021 streams, Material You touches almost every part of Android. Yes, even the lowly toast notification. In the new beta, some apps are firing off more informative pop-ups.
The complete list of phones that can get the Android 12 beta today
Available for Pixels, as well as devices from eleven other OEMs
For the last few years, the Android Beta Program has been one of the biggest highlights of Google I/O, which continues to be the case this year. Now that Google has announced the exciting changes coming to Android 12, many of us will be eager to try it for ourselves. Naturally, the Beta will only be available on select devices, so find out if your phone is eligible below:
If you've been itching to get your hands on the absolute latest version of Android, you'll be able to later today. Google said during I/O that the latest beta build will be available today, May 18th. Pixel phones will absolutely be at the top of the list, but other devices from other manufacturers are also in the pipeline.
Android 12 DP 2 has a sweet new textured ripple animation for taps
It's a bit scratchy, in a nice way
One of the most fun things about new versions of Android is seeing all the new visual bling Google builds into the operating system. One such example was spotted by developer @kdrag0n, who managed to get it working on Android 12, Developer Preview 2. It's a more busy, "noisy" animation for tapping a standard interface item.
Android 12 has a double tap on the back gesture for the Pixel 5, but it isn't active yet
It can open the camera, take a screenshot, or pause media
Google likes to throw in some interesting physical gestures for its phones—see the "squeeze" function the older Pixels inherited from HTC, or the short-lived Soli gestures in the Pixel 4. There's another one the company has been brewing for a while, at least on the Pixel 5: double-tapping the back of the phone for some frequently-used actions.
Android 12: Release date, previews, betas, and everything you need to know
All your questions answered
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The first Android 12 developer preview is here. As usual, we've dived into all the changes present in this latest release — so far, anyway. But there are still plenty of other questions you might have, like: Should I install Android 12 now? What's the difference between the "previews" and the "betas?" When will Android 12 land? And how many updates will it get before it is released? Here are your answers.
Android 12 release schedule: Expect monthly updates with three previews and four betas
Assuming everything goes according to plan
Together with the first Android 12 Developer Preview just earlier today, Google also published its schedule for Android 12 releases going forward. We can look forward to three total Developer Previews (or two more, counting today's), plus four Android Betas, all set to a monthly release cadence, with a final release set for some time after August.