🤖 Google released Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3.1 with minor bugfixes and November security patch.

While the beta testing of 15 QPR2 is already well underway, ahead of the December update, Google has decided to release a small update for the third beta of 15 QPR1 in which the company has fixed the following issues:

• Fixed an issue where tapping media controls closed the notification shade but didn't open the app.
• Fixed an issue where long pressing the device entry icon didn't work when there were many notifications and the notification shelf was overlapping the lock icon.
• Fixed an issue that prevented proper volume control for some Bluetooth devices.
• Fixed an issue that caused the Material You, wallpaper-derived color options to be very similar.
• Fixed an issue that caused the scrollbar in the system settings to be sized and styled inconsistently.
• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused NFC payments to fail.
• Fixed an issue where translations in Indonesian and Hebrew didn't display correctly for apps that are targeting Android 14 (API level 34) or lower.
• Fixed various other issues that were impacting system stability, camera, connectivity, localization, accessibility, and interactivity.

The release of Android 15 QPR1 is expected in about a week and a half.

Build number: AP41.240925.009 → AP41.240925.012
Security Patch: November 2024

🔗 Factory images
🔗 OTA images

*QPR — quarterly platform release

#Android15

😎 Google News | En

Stable version of Android 15 QPR1 has been released for Pixel devices.

QPR1 is the first quarterly update for Android 15, which has been testing since late August. This update brings the following new features:

• Predictive back animation for keyboard
• Updated animation for holding down quick settings tiles
• Top-level Settings homepage redesign
• New keyboard switcher globe key
• New status bar chips for screen recording/screen casting
• Compact heads-up notifications layout for immersive content
• External display settings
• Lock screen widgets for Pixel Tablet
• Support for windowed desktop mode for Pixel Tablet
• Limit charging to 80%
• Updated animation of returning to the home screen

Also, alongside the quarterly update, the December Pixel Feature Drop was released, with new features being rolled out via app updates. These changes will be described in the following posts.

Build number: AP4A.241205.013
Security Patch: December 2024

Available for Pixel 6 and newer devices.

🔗 Android Security Bulletin — December 2024
🔗 Pixel Update Bulletin — December 2024

🔗 Factory Images
🔗 OTA-images

😎 Google News | En

Pixel 6 & 7 series (and Fold) get an extended OS update period.

At the release of these devices, Google promised "at least" 3 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates from the time these devices appeared on the Google Store.

Now the info on the support page has been updated saying that the Pixel 6, 6a, 6 Pro, 7, 7a, 7 Pro and Fold will receive both OS and security updates for 5 years, which may also include a Pixel Feature Drops.

So support for the 6 series will end in 2026 and the Pixel 7 series in 2027.

As of now, the support page for the Pixel Tablet remains unchanged.

😎 Google News | En

🐞 List of fixes in the December 2024 update for Pixel devices:

Audio
• Fix for audio stability and performance in certain condition*[Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, Fold, Tablet, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold]
• Fix for issue with device reboot while using a USB audio device in certain conditions*[Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a]

Bluetooth
• Fix for issue with Bluetooth range in certain conditions*[Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold]

Camera
• General improvements for camera stability under certain conditions*[Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a]

Display & Graphics
• Issue with green tint on screen in certain conditions*[Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a]

System
• General improvements for system stability and performance in certain conditions*[Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a]

Telephony
• General improvements for network connection stability and performance in certain conditions*[Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, Fold, Tablet]

User Interface
• Fix for issue occasionally causing the lockscreen wallpaper to fade out slowly in certain conditions*[Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, Fold, Tablet, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold]
• Fix for issue with dark mode settings stability in certain conditions*[Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, Fold, Tablet, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold]
• Fix for issue with delay in call notifications appearing in certain conditions*[Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, Fold, Tablet, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold]
• Fix for issue with layouts and animations during transitions in certain conditions*[Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a]
• Fix for issue with repeating color selection in Wallpapers & Styles in certain conditions*[Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold]
• Fix for issue with Wallpaper & Style app crashing in certain conditions*[Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold]
• Fix to improve swipe actions in certain condition*[Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, Fold, Tablet, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold]
• Fix for issue with notification background colors in certain conditions*[Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, Fold, Tablet, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold]

Wi-FI
• Fix to improve wireless (Wi-Fi) stability and performance in certain conditions*[Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, Fold, Tablet, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold]

😎 Google News | En

📷 Pixel Camera v9.7 update brings back quick controls in the viewfinder.

Starting with version 9.1, Google moved the sliders for adjusting white balance and brightness of dark and light areas to a section accessed via a button in the bottom right corner. Many users didn't like this change as it deprived them of quick access to these adjustments.

With the new version number 9.7, there is a new “Quick access controls” option in the camera settings that brings these sliders back to the camera viewfinder. As before, you can call them up by tapping the viewfinder.

Pixel Camera v.9.7 is starting to roll out via Google Play, the rollout could take a few weeks.

😎 Google News | En

Pixel 10 will be equipped with a MediaTek modem.

Recently, quite a lot of info about the upcoming Google Tensor G5 and G6 processors has been leaked online, from which we know that they will be manufactured using TSMC's process node. However, the most important question for users was what modem the upcoming smartphones will be equipped with.

As Android Authority found out, the upcoming Pixel 10 will be powered by the yet-to-be-released MediaTek T900 modem. As of now, the only thing known about it is that it is based on MediaTek's “M85” generation IP modem, and that it will support at least the 17th release of the 5G 3GPP specification.

It is also known that Google considered using Qualcomm's Snapdragon X75 modem, which the iPhone 16 is also equipped with, but eventually settled on MediaTek's solution.

😎 Google News | En

Android 15 QPR2 Beta 2 is out.

Google has released the second beta of the second quarterly update (QPR2) for Android 15, which will be released in February / March 2025. List of fixed issues:

• Fixed an issue that prevented the "ANGLE preferences" option from being accessed in developer options
• Fixed an issue that prevented some glucose sensor devices from connecting
• Fixed issues that caused a long delay while selecting options to place a call
• Fixed an issue that prevented the "Limit to 80%" option in charging optimization settings from being enabled
• Fixed null pointer issues that could cause devices to unexpectedly crash or restart
• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused Pixel Fold devices to stop responding while unfolded

Bluetooth resolved issues
• Fixed a bug of inconsistent behavior during switch from ASHA to LE Audio and back, ensuring the audio always pauses when switching.
• Fixed a bug that causes L2CAP connection failure with error reason code 3 after a phone reboot due to incorrect security level saving during pairing, leading to a security check failure on Bluetooth reset.
• Fixed a bug that allowed LE links to remain unencrypted on reconnection with bonded devices, potentially exposing sensitive data to attackers.
• Fixing a bug of Bluetooth HAL crashes or gets stuck when Bluetooth LE audio hardware offload is disabled.

Build number: BP11.241121.010
Security Patch: December 2024

🔗 Factory images
🔗 OTA images
🔗 Sign up for the beta test for the over-the-air upgrade

*QPR — quarterly platform release

#Android15

😎 Google News | En

Android 15 QPR2 Beta 2: The Bluetooth QS-tile menu now shows Fast Pair devices icons.

One of the shortcomings of the new window introduced in Android 14 QPR2 was the lack of unique icons for paired Fast Pair devices. Instead, it displayed regular monochrome icons, causing even the Pixel Watch to have a headphone icon.

Thankfully, Google has decided to fix this in Android 15 QPR2 beta 2. And it may have happened because of my report on issue tracker that I wrote at the end of October.

#Android15

😎 Google News | En