Google made public Android 12 developer preview about a week ago and it comes with a number of updates. Notably, a number of UI design changes to its interface. Android UI has never changed this radically from 2014! Android 5 lollipop came with a drastically new material design from what was on Android then. Android 12 improves on it drastically with what Google calls Material You.
Material You
Material You enables the the user to tailor the looks specific to a user. This mean the look and feel of Android will be different from device to device since the colors will be picked from a user’s wallpaper settings. These color pallets are picked directly from the user’s wallpaper. This color schemes extends to application though it is up to developers to add these feature to their devices. It is interesting to see how they will navigate this with their specific company branding in apps.
Animations
The screen lights up from the side when the power button is clicked to wake. When picked up, it lights up from the bottom.
Quick Settings
Quick Settings a now larger with rectangles
Google pay
Google Pay is now at the quick settings and not long after pressing the power button. You can however set long-pressing the power button to do exactly the old way if you prefer it that way.
Notifications
Notifications now have timestamps from notifications enabling users to keep track of notifications. Previous versions of Android required a third-party application for it to be timestamped. Android 12 is great for people who receive a lot of notifications.
Gesture
One handed mode by swiping down to make the screen smaller for one hand operation especially for people with larger devices and tiny hands trying to reach the top of the device.
Double tapping the the fingerprint at the back can now do a specific action which can be set by the user.
Performance
Android 12 reduces the core system CPU services by over 22 percent and high performance oriented tasks reduced by up to 15%.
Privacy
Features that enables users to control of usage of services that track the users and has a timeline section where users can revoke permissions granted. The apps includes Google’s own apps. Quick toggle for camera and microphone to disable these components of a smartphone.
Camera
people with dark skin can now take better better by photos by using AI to correctly balance the white colors in a photo.
There are very many other features that come with Android 12 and more will be refined as it is now in the Beta phase. The final version of Android 12 will be out in mid-August. Watch out for the update!
Devices to install Beta
Google Pixel devices with other partners are eligible for Android 12 Beta update. The partners include ASUS, OnePlus, OPPO, realme, Sharp, TECNO, TCL, Vivo, Xiaomi, and ZTE. Check out Android 12 eligible devices here. Check if your specific device is part of the program but always remember the software is in the early beta phase and things might not work as expected.
