Android 12 Developer Preview 3: All the upcoming user-facing features revealed
Apr 22, 2021, 14:17 IST
- Google has officially released the third developer preview of its upcoming Android 12 OS.
- The next-gen Android OS could see tons of design and interface improvements.
- Android 12 will be released at the Google I/O event in May.
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Google has officially released the third Developer Preview (DP3) of Android 12 for developers. We've already seen two previews of the upcoming Operating System (OS) version and we now have a decent idea of what Android 12 could be like. Google has released new APIs for camera, haptics and more. Folks at XDA-developers have dug out all the user-friendly features on the recent build and there are quite a few of them.
These features have been spotted on the previous build of the Android 12, which makes it quite likely that these features could make it to the final version too. The launch is slated for the Google I/O event in mid-May. However, while we wait for the event to take place, let's take a look at all the significant details leaked about the Android 12.
A more one-handed friendly settings UI
With ever-increasing display size on phones, this feature is the need of the hour. Don't confuse it with the one-handed mode, this update brings the UI elements closer to the bottom of the display instead of shrinking the whole screen.
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Google has been testing the new overscroll animation that appears when you scroll to the extreme top or bottom of a page. The animation looks like a wobbly stretch that plays when you go past the bounds of any list. The animation isn't enabled by default, you need to manually locate and enable it on the DP3.
Updated Markup image editor
Android allows you to edit screenshots right after you capture it using the Markup tool. On the current Android version, you get an option to write text on top of the image, but it didn't let you choose a font. Now, the Android 12 DP3 shows that the next iteration of the OS could give you an option to choose the font as well.
An option to customise notification access
This is a much-needed update concerning privacy that hasn't been talked much about. As of now the ‘Notification Listener’ service can read and intercept all notifications received on your device.
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However, it looks like Google is working to fix it on Android 12. On DP3 it's been noticed that the company is working on new improved settings for notification access, that will let you fine-tune the level of access a Notification Listener service has on your notifications as of now.
An automated splash screen for all apps
Another UI-based feature in the Android 12 DP3 is automatically generated splash screens. A splash screen appears in between the animation when an app is tapped on. It shows the app icon and a transition to the app itself. Developers will have an option to customise the splash screen for their apps' background colour, transition speed, animation before opening the app and exit animations.
Corners are now more rounded
The whole UI now has even more rounded corners over Android 11. From icons, widgets to pop-up menus, everything now has more rounded corners.
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New funky volume panelAnother design change in the UI is in the volume panel. The panel has also received the rounded corner treatment with a circular profile selection toggle that expands into a capsule-shaped panel. It also matches the accent and colour of the selected system theme.
Searching for widgets will be easier
For those who have faced issues looking for the right widget to add to their home screen, Android 12 DP3 shows a search bar in the widget settings screen. The Pixel Launcher also shows recommended widgets at the top, which wasn't available in the previous version.
Battery settings screen redesigned
As of now, if you visit the Settings > Battery option on Android 11, you will find a huge battery icon with an estimate on how long the battery will last. That particular section is redesigned in Android 12 with a minimal progress bar.
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More design, animations and interface changes on Android 12 DP3
There are many other minor customisations not mentioned above. These small upgrades include a new way to open the 'Accessibility menu' using a floating button, a new bouncy pull-down animation for the notification panel, more quick setting tiles that have on/off labels.
Some renaming has also been done - "Accounts" is changed to "Passwords and Accounts", 2.4GHz WiFi hotspot toggle is now called "Maximize compatibility", "Reduce brightness" is called "Extra Dim" and so on.
(Via- XDA Developers)