The Google Play Store may be rolling out a new feature that shows you the installation progress of apps in a bubble overlaid on top of all screens in the app store.
I just noticed this feature on my Pixel 8 Pro with Google Play version 38.3.22. Does anyone else have this yet?
This feature has been in development for over a year now. Its codename is "download buddy" and it can be toggled by going to Play Store settings > expanding "general" > Notifications > show install progress bubble. It was enabled by default for me.
I just noticed this feature on my Pixel 8 Pro with Google Play version 38.3.22. Does anyone else have this yet?
This feature has been in development for over a year now. Its codename is "download buddy" and it can be toggled by going to Play Store settings > expanding "general" > Notifications > show install progress bubble. It was enabled by default for me.
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Android 14 QPR2 will be Android's first "trunk stable" release. "Trunk stable" is an initiative to bring more stability to the Android OS. (Look up "trunk-based development" and how Google outside of Android handles repos for a bit of context on what this means.)
A couple of weeks back, I talked about Google's use of "aconfig", which is a new flag management system that Android will use to gate features and new APIs. aconfig is part of this new development model to help test new features/APIs during the "QPR" beta process, though these features/APIs will only actually be enabled in what's traditionally been the next major Android release.
During The Android Show, Dave Burke kind of alluded to this initiative. To quote:
"I sometimes call quality the number one feature...One of the things that we did internally is we made a pledge to ourselves that we would ensure that every release was higher quality than the previous release by a set of expanding metrics that we measure in the lab and in the field...it's really causing us to force the bar higher and higher and even internally we're looking at changing some of our developer practices in 2024 where rather than sort of you know go off for a year and work on a release for a very long time, like we break that up to chunks internally so we sort of keep the branch green internally. So that's something that we think will help with that metric, so rather than have the metrics go up and down and have to chase them back up it'll be a smaller ripple and it'll make it easier for us to have an increasing slope." (emphasis mine)
As for why the build ID is AP1A instead of something like U2B1, I don't know the exact reason. I have seen in AOSP that future releases are referred to as 24Q1, 24Q2 and so on, and that Android 15 V should be called 24Q3. The build IDs should thus progress from AP1A, AP2A, AP3A, and so on.
I won't say much more since I'm hoping Google will talk more about this soon. Everything I mentioned here can be gleaned from reading AOSP, btw.
A couple of weeks back, I talked about Google's use of "aconfig", which is a new flag management system that Android will use to gate features and new APIs. aconfig is part of this new development model to help test new features/APIs during the "QPR" beta process, though these features/APIs will only actually be enabled in what's traditionally been the next major Android release.
During The Android Show, Dave Burke kind of alluded to this initiative. To quote:
"I sometimes call quality the number one feature...One of the things that we did internally is we made a pledge to ourselves that we would ensure that every release was higher quality than the previous release by a set of expanding metrics that we measure in the lab and in the field...it's really causing us to force the bar higher and higher and even internally we're looking at changing some of our developer practices in 2024 where rather than sort of you know go off for a year and work on a release for a very long time, like we break that up to chunks internally so we sort of keep the branch green internally. So that's something that we think will help with that metric, so rather than have the metrics go up and down and have to chase them back up it'll be a smaller ripple and it'll make it easier for us to have an increasing slope." (emphasis mine)
As for why the build ID is AP1A instead of something like U2B1, I don't know the exact reason. I have seen in AOSP that future releases are referred to as 24Q1, 24Q2 and so on, and that Android 15 V should be called 24Q3. The build IDs should thus progress from AP1A, AP2A, AP3A, and so on.
I won't say much more since I'm hoping Google will talk more about this soon. Everything I mentioned here can be gleaned from reading AOSP, btw.
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Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 adds the previously mentioned "single app" screen recording and screen casting features!
When you start a screen recording, you now have the option to record a single app or the entire screen. Choosing single app opens an app selector with recent apps. The resulting screen recording won't include the navigation or status bar areas.
You can also choose to screen cast a single app instead of the entire screen.
When you start a screen recording, you now have the option to record a single app or the entire screen. Choosing single app opens an app selector with recent apps. The resulting screen recording won't include the navigation or status bar areas.
You can also choose to screen cast a single app instead of the entire screen.
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In Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1, the taskbar's app drawer icon has been updated, and there's also finally a search bar in the taskbar's app drawer!
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Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 introduces a new privacy indicator dialog that appears whenever an app is using the microphone or camera and you tap the privacy indicator chip after pulling down the status bar.
Previously, tapping the chip would launch a full screen activity that was like a mini Safety Center.
Previously, tapping the chip would launch a full screen activity that was like a mini Safety Center.
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The Pixel Launcher is FINALLY preparing to add a toggle that lets you HIDE the At a Glance widget from the home screen. After the widget is hidden, the space underneath it is open to other apps/widgets!
This toggle is not visible yet in Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1, so I had to manually activate it!
This toggle is not visible yet in Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1, so I had to manually activate it!
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Android is preparing to add support for "Remote Authenticator Unlock". My understanding is that this is the AOSP platform version of GMS Watch Unlock.
These features let you unlock your phone using your watch. Here's a more in-depth explanation of Watch Unlock.
These features let you unlock your phone using your watch. Here's a more in-depth explanation of Watch Unlock.
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I think Android is preparing to finally add a pop-up dialog for the Bluetooth Quick Setting tile! I'm guessing this dialog will show your recently connected devices and possibly let you pair to new ones without having to open the full Bluetooth settings.
A new
A new
bluetooth_qs_tile_dialog flag has been added as well as code under com.android.systemui.qs.tiles.dialog.bluetooth, but I don't think the feature is fully implemented yet in this build.👍80❤9🔥8
Spotted a new "Private Space" settings page in Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1. Tapping "Create Private Space" creates a new profile of type
If I had to guess, this "Private Space" will let you hide apps on your phone from other people.
android.os.usertype.profile.PRIVATE, which seems to be a new type of user in Android. If I had to guess, this "Private Space" will let you hide apps on your phone from other people.
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Spotted a new "notification cooldown" settings page in Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1. This page will appear at the bottom of Settings > Notifications. This feature is also referred to as "Polite Notifications" in code.
This may be a way to throttle notifications for some or all apps.
Edit: What I think this will do is lower the notification volume when an app suddenly starts spamming notifications. It seems you'll be able to choose to apply this to all notifications or only conversations notifications. You'll also be able to choose whether or not notifications should vibrate your device when the screen is locked.
This may be a way to throttle notifications for some or all apps.
Edit: What I think this will do is lower the notification volume when an app suddenly starts spamming notifications. It seems you'll be able to choose to apply this to all notifications or only conversations notifications. You'll also be able to choose whether or not notifications should vibrate your device when the screen is locked.
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Sony is rolling out Android 14 to the Xperia 10 V, according to the @sonyxperia account.
Though they didn't share a full changelog, you can expect it to have many of the features added in the AOSP release of Android 14. For example, it has lock screen shortcut customization.
Sony rolled out Android 14 to the Xperia 1 V last week. Here's my post covering that release.
Though they didn't share a full changelog, you can expect it to have many of the features added in the AOSP release of Android 14. For example, it has lock screen shortcut customization.
Sony rolled out Android 14 to the Xperia 1 V last week. Here's my post covering that release.
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OPPO is beginning to roll out its global stable release of ColorOS 14 based on Android 14 for the OPPO Find N2 Flip. This is currently available in Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and Thailand, but you have to apply to get the update.
OnePlus is also rolling out its stable release of OxygenOS 14 based on Android 14 for the OnePlus 11, but only in India right now.
ColorOS 14 and OxygenOS 14 are nearly identical, so these respective updates bring the same features on top of the changes introduced in Android 14.
Here's a summary of the new features introduced in OxygenOS 14/ColorOS 14. Here's when the beta version of ColorOS 14 will begin rolling out to other OPPO devices.
OnePlus is also rolling out its stable release of OxygenOS 14 based on Android 14 for the OnePlus 11, but only in India right now.
ColorOS 14 and OxygenOS 14 are nearly identical, so these respective updates bring the same features on top of the changes introduced in Android 14.
Here's a summary of the new features introduced in OxygenOS 14/ColorOS 14. Here's when the beta version of ColorOS 14 will begin rolling out to other OPPO devices.
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Apple announces that RCS support is coming to iPhone next year
Sure there are a lot of questions remaining about what exactly RCS support in iOS will look like, but I'm going to remain cautiously optimistic until proven otherwise.
Later next year, we will be adding support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard as currently published by the GSM Association. We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS. This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users.
Sure there are a lot of questions remaining about what exactly RCS support in iOS will look like, but I'm going to remain cautiously optimistic until proven otherwise.
9to5Mac
Apple announces that RCS support is coming to iPhone next year - 9to5Mac
In a surprising move, Apple has announced today that it will adopt the RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging standard. The...
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OnePlus and OPPO are integrating Microsoft's Link to Windows app into OxygenOS 14/ColorOS 14!
At ODC23 (OPPO Developer Conference 2023), the company announced (via @realMlgmXyysd) it would bring Phone Link integration to ColorOS 14. OnePlus followed up with a post on its community forums announcing the same.
Currently, you have to download the "Link to Windows" app from Google Play to use Microsoft's Android <--> Windows cross-device features, but this app is seemingly going to be bundled into the Android 14 release from OnePlus and OPPO.
Besides making it easier to set up, bundling Link to Windows also enables additional features, like "Phone screen" (screen mirroring), "Apps" (mirroring individual or multiple apps), and "Instant Hotspot" (connecting to your phone's mobile hotspot from your PC's WiFi menu).
Fun fact: Qualcomm's fork of Android 14 actually added a bunch of code to more tightly integrate Phone Link into the OS.
At ODC23 (OPPO Developer Conference 2023), the company announced (via @realMlgmXyysd) it would bring Phone Link integration to ColorOS 14. OnePlus followed up with a post on its community forums announcing the same.
Currently, you have to download the "Link to Windows" app from Google Play to use Microsoft's Android <--> Windows cross-device features, but this app is seemingly going to be bundled into the Android 14 release from OnePlus and OPPO.
Besides making it easier to set up, bundling Link to Windows also enables additional features, like "Phone screen" (screen mirroring), "Apps" (mirroring individual or multiple apps), and "Instant Hotspot" (connecting to your phone's mobile hotspot from your PC's WiFi menu).
Fun fact: Qualcomm's fork of Android 14 actually added a bunch of code to more tightly integrate Phone Link into the OS.
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