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On Android 12 Beta 5, the Pixel Launcher's search bar can find (almost) anything
Say hello to semi-universal search in the Pixel Launcher
Search is an almost universal element of human interface design, but it's still largely limited by context. In Android 12 Google has been expanding that to allow a single search from the home screen cover everything — your apps, contacts, settings, and wider content from the web via a link. While we've seen glimpses of this functionality in earlier betas, Beta 5 seems to be opening it wide.
Android 12 Beta 5 moves home controls where they should have been from the start
They're hanging out on the lock screen next to the Google Pay shortcut
With its latest, and very possibly last, update to the Android 12 beta, Google is adding in a lot of creature comforts that flesh out the operating system's user interaction. One of the most handy is home controls (AKA device controls), quick links to your most-used actions for controlling a smarthome. Previously (and distractingly) placed in the power menu, they seem to have a much more easy-to-reach home now: right no the lock screen.