Android Q Gets Dark Mode, Live Video Captioning, Better Gestures and More (engadget.com) 29
At its annual I/O developer event, Google announced a bunch of new features available in the latest Android Q beta. Engadget reports: The most obvious new feature is dark mode, which will be released system-wide in Android Q. It's accessible via a toggle switch in the quick settings area and it'll also be activated when you turn on battery saver mode. We just saw a quick screenshot of it, but it looks like it'll apply to any apps you're using regardless of whether they're Google-made or from other developers. Another notable new feature is called Live Caption. If you're watching a video, Google's machine-learning algorithms can now add captions on the fly by just pressing the volume button and then a "live caption" button that'll show up on on the onscreen volume slider. From there, you can expand and contract the panel as you see fit, and move it up and down on the screen so it doesn't obscure your video. Google is also able to do all of this on-device, so it's more secure and also doesn't need a network connection.
[T]he company says that there are 50 new privacy and security settings in Android Q. Perhaps most notable are new location services settings that let you limit location tracking to only when the app is running. It'll also give you notifications to let users see when apps are using your location in the background. New settings also let you keep apps from accessing media on your phone and collecting information about your device like its IMEI and serial number. [...] Google's adding a new "focus mode" to help shut down various distractions. It'll block most app alerts and notifications while allowing important contacts like your family members to reach you. There are also more tools for parents to manage their kids' phone time -- it'll let you review how they're using their phone from your own device, set daily time limits, review app requests and more. There are also tweaks to the gesture-based navigation bar to make it more closely resemble the navigation gestures first introduced in the iPhone X. Google's also adding a new chat-focused interface called "bubbles" that lets users keep messaging conversations accessible regardless of what they're doing with the phone.
We can expect the final desert-themed name and release date later in the summer. The Q beta 3 is currently available on 21 devices, including all Pixel devices.
[T]he company says that there are 50 new privacy and security settings in Android Q. Perhaps most notable are new location services settings that let you limit location tracking to only when the app is running. It'll also give you notifications to let users see when apps are using your location in the background. New settings also let you keep apps from accessing media on your phone and collecting information about your device like its IMEI and serial number. [...] Google's adding a new "focus mode" to help shut down various distractions. It'll block most app alerts and notifications while allowing important contacts like your family members to reach you. There are also more tools for parents to manage their kids' phone time -- it'll let you review how they're using their phone from your own device, set daily time limits, review app requests and more. There are also tweaks to the gesture-based navigation bar to make it more closely resemble the navigation gestures first introduced in the iPhone X. Google's also adding a new chat-focused interface called "bubbles" that lets users keep messaging conversations accessible regardless of what they're doing with the phone.
We can expect the final desert-themed name and release date later in the summer. The Q beta 3 is currently available on 21 devices, including all Pixel devices.
Re: (Score:1)
Because everyone is so ecstatic that the brain dead stupid, battery killing, low contrast bullshit is finally not being forced down our throats anymore. I can't do these all white low contrast interfaces, I require a dark high contrast mode. It's nice that is coming back as an option, it's been a long time since high contrast was a system wide option.
Re: (Score:2)
I like dark mode. :|
At least on a large PC monitor in a room. I find it's much easier on the eyes.
On a small phone, outside? Not sure.
Windows Phone was default dark mode able in 2010 (Score:1)
How things change. Sllllowlier than they should. Duoplies. Suck. My. Balls.
Desert-themed? (Score:2, Funny)
Gobi or Mojave?
Re: (Score:2)
Yes, excellent editing, Slashdot.
Call recording? (Score:1)
Who cares all the crap. More importantly: did they bring Call Recording back? There are thousands of users complaining on their issue tracker that this feature was removed (without any legitimate reason no less).
Re: (Score:2)
Speaking of bringing things back, I wonder if you'll be able to do more network scans in Q than they took it down to in Pie. It breaks wifi scanners and analyzers.
LG doesn't care (Score:3, Informative)
Meanwhile, LG still hasn't gotten Pie out the door for their flagships. Then they'll give up on actually delivering two upgrades, because upgrades are hard for them.
Upgrades are the Achilles heel of Android phones.
Re: (Score:2)
LG doesn't care and neither do most users. (Score:2)
Of course they don't. Android "upgrades" are unnecessary because the phone has already been sold and most users wouldn't know or care about them anyway because to them phones are magic.
Re: (Score:3)
And, if you're a user who does care, buy a Pixel or Android One phone to receive timely updates.
Re: (Score:3)
Meanwhile, LG still hasn't gotten Pie out the door for their flagships.
Meanwhile, Lenovorola has gotten Pie out the door for most of their devices [theandroidsoul.com]. Maybe don't buy LG. I don't understand how they became a trusted Android device manufacturer to begin with. Their flip phones sucked.
Re: (Score:2)
Upgrades are the Achilles heel of Android phones.
If you care about OS upgrades then get a Pixel phone. The $399 ones are incredible value for money.
For the rest don't worry, you are getting security updates via Play Services even if the manufacturer doesn't upgrade the OS. It's all defence in depth these days.
Good thing I got the Android One version (Score:2)
I recently got a Moto X4 because they are blowing them out cheap, and I opted for the Android One version even though it wasn't cheapest because it promised updates. All Android One phones are allegedly going to get Android Q [androidcentral.com], so that includes my $150 unlocked 3GB/32GB water-resistant budget cheapie.
Fingers crossed, I guess. I had a Nexus 4 and that had a pretty decent run of updates...