Key Takeaways
1. Live Updates Feature: Users can now monitor delivery progress without constantly checking apps, initially supporting select ride-share and food delivery apps.
2. Visual Improvements: The status bar text is bolder for better readability, and control panel tiles can be customized with refreshed brightness and volume sliders.
3. Streamlined Notifications: Notifications from the same app are now grouped together, making it easier to find specific alerts.
4. Enhanced Features for Large Screens: Desktop Windowing is introduced for larger devices, enhancing productivity on foldables and tablets, with custom keyboard shortcuts available.
5. Advanced Protection: Google’s strongest mobile device protection is now available, activated with one tap to safeguard against online threats and scams.
Android 16 has arrived, bringing several visual updates that enhance user experience. This release is notable as it is the earliest major Android launch in many years and sets the stage for Google’s new Material 3 Expressive design language. The version currently available is the Android 16 QPR1 beta release (Google has recently issued QPR1 Beta 2, which includes some fixes), and it is ready for supported Pixel devices. Let’s dive into the new features.
New Live Updates Feature
One small yet handy addition is the Live Updates feature. Now, instead of constantly checking a delivery app, you can monitor the progress quickly. Initially, it supports a few ride-share and food delivery apps, but more are likely to come as development continues. Samsung’s Now Bar and OPPO and OnePlus’ Live Alerts will also incorporate this feature to improve the overall Android experience.
Visual Improvements
Regarding visual updates, there are several noteworthy changes. The status bar text now features a bold font, making it clearer and easier to read. Additionally, the tiles in the control panel can be customized, and both the brightness and volume sliders have received a fresh look.
Streamlined Notifications
Tired of scrolling through endless notifications or having trouble locating the one you need? Android 16 now organizes notifications from the same app together, which simplifies the process of finding what you’re after.
Enhanced Features for Large Screens
For larger devices, Android 16 brings Desktop Windowing, inspired by Samsung’s DeX. There’s a video available that showcases how this feature works and how it can enhance productivity on foldable devices or Android tablets. Users can also set up custom keyboard shortcuts to maximize the utility of their lightweight, efficient, yet powerful device.
Advanced Protection
Another significant addition is Advanced Protection, which Google describes as its “strongest mobile device protection” to date. It can be activated with just one tap and is designed to safeguard users against online threats, malicious apps, unsafe websites, scam calls, and more.
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