Everything you need to know about Android 13’s new features.
With the release of the Developer Preview and now the first beta, Google has made its first public step towards Android 13. For the smartphone OS, it means a fall release for the next version of Android is triggered. Moreover, Android 13 is about to go on the voyage.
The first public beta of Android 13 is currently available. Because beta programmes often begin during Google’s I/O conference, this is surprising. We’re getting closer to realising our vision for the feature set, but it’s still far from comprehensive in our minds.
So far, the following is all we understand about Android 13.
Rumors about the release date of Android 13 have been circulating for some time
A general timeline for Google’s upgrade and beta release timetable is now available with the release of Android 13 Developer Preview 1. Those acquainted with Android 12’s release timeline will recognise this.
We already knew Android 13 will be released in the autumn, around the time of the Pixel 7’s arrival. On the other hand, Google’s annual Google I/O 2022 conference, which begins on May 11th, is expected to provide further information on the release schedule.
According to Google’s Android 13 roadmap, the first beta version of the software is expected to be released in April. On April 26, Android 13 Beta 1 was released by Google. At Google I/O, we still expect to see a large demonstration of Android 13.
Android v13 includes a number of new capabilities.
There is still a lot we don’t know about Android 13’s full feature set, including what’s included in Android 13 Beta 1 and Beta 2. Nonetheless, several speculated improvements from Android Police offer us a good idea of what we might anticipate in 2015.
In the same way that you may make adjustments to a snapshot preview before saving it, Android 13 enables you to modify copied text before adding it to your clipboard, preventing you from making a few errors. Clicking this button will launch the URL in Chrome as soon as the phone recognises that you’ve copied it.
The new Photo Picker in Android 13’s initial developer preview is based on iOS 15’s Photo Picker functionality. For example, you may select whether to share just the photographs you want or the whole collection with an app. Apps can only view the data you’ve chosen to share with them, thanks to the new functionality.
Another new feature in the Android 13 developer version is the inclusion of a Wi-Fi aspect to the Nearby Device permission. By granting an app access to information about nearby Wi-Fi access points, the NEARBY WIFI DEVICES permission restricts what you may share with third-party applications.
If you’re familiar with Android 12’s wallpaper-adjusted icons, you’ll know that third-party icons may now be coloured in accordance with the wallpaper. The developer preview of Android 13 shows that third-party applications will be able to use this feature as well.
According to a rumour, Android 13 may have support for dual eSIMs, which would allow several carriers to connect to a single eSIM. There would be no need for a physical SIM card with Android 13’s support for dual eSIM, but that is up to carriers and phone manufacturers.
Android Police has got screenshots of two new QR code scanners. Allowing you to scan restaurant menus from the lock screen without unlocking your handset is the first feature. This would be a wonderful addition.
The iPhone and HomePods aren’t the only mobile devices with media playback handoff features on the way. If you’re unaware, you can transfer media from your iPhone to a HomePod mini. “Media TTT,” or Media Tap-to-Transfer, might be seen in Android 13 if Android Police’s source is right. Using this method, you may move media playing from your phone to another device like a Nest speaker. At this point, we don’t know how this would function.
In the Android 13 Beta 1 release, new granular media access permissions were implemented. Images, videos, and audio files will now need to be requested individually by apps. Previously, all of your material was accessible to applications through a single permission.
Android Police believes that Google will make adjustments to the media output picker regardless of whether it is a picture picker or not. Your phone’s speakers, Bluetooth earphones, etc. may all be used to play your media in this section. To complement the redesigned main volume bar in Android 12, pictures suggest that the volume bar is receiving a circular, full-sized option.
Google’s developer beta seems to include a function that allows you to change the brightness of your flashlight, rather than merely turning it on or off. This capability has long been available on various iOS and Android devices, so it’s nice to see it included by default here.
Google has officially revealed a new feature that would enable applications to be preserved in a smaller, archived version on users’ phones, decreasing their storage footprint until they are required. This may not be particular to Android 13, but it has been formally confirmed by Google. It seems to be especially handy for those with little storage space on their mobile devices.
Android 13 Developer Preview 2 introduces notification permissions, which are essentially a carbon duplicate of their iOS counterparts. When you initially use an app, you have the option to block notifications from being sent to your phone, as long as developers provide the feature.
In Android 13, Bluetooth LE audio support will be included, allowing for better audio quality while using less battery power.
Functionality for MIDI 2.0 devices: Android 13 will also have MIDI 2.0 support.
Anticipatory Audio Routing: Android 13 has new APIs for improved handling of audio production and device selection. Musicians would benefit greatly from this feature, as it will make it easier for them to choose the optimal audio format for their track.
KeyMint and Keystore’s error reporting might be improved. A number of improvements have been made in Android 13’s KeyMint and Keystore cryptographic key systems, including improved error reporting. Those who depend on these systems will be able to notice problems if their applications fail to produce keys correctly. Even more crucially, developers may utilise the failures to identify the issue and retry key creation.
It’s time for Android 13!
There was no seamless transition from Android 5.0 Lollipop to Material Design in Android 12, just as there wasn’t one in Android 12. Google has hundreds of employees working on this, but they are all ultimately human. It’s impossible to avoid making mistakes and blunders.
I’d want to see the following features in Android 13, and I’m sure I’ll come up with more.
No mystery that Android 12 had a bumpy start, with several issues. While I haven’t had too many problems, I’m aware that some have. When Lollipop was released in 2014, various issues arose as a result of the switch to Material You. It was inevitable that there would be problems, but I’d want to see Android 13 fix them.
Restore access to the Wi-Fi Quick Settings tile. Google combined the mobile data and Wi-Fi settings in one place named “Internet” for Android 12. As a result, switching Wi-Fi networks might be cumbersome. I’d want to see this modification undone and Android return to its previous state.
Sliding screenshots for all applications: In Android 12, slidable screenshots were added for certain apps, but not for everyone. To avoid a shortage of scrolling screenshots, app developers have to design a “View-based UI.” Scrolling screenshots, like those seen on other Android phones for years, are something I want to see in Android 13.
In Android 11, you’ll be able to access your smart home controls from the power menu. They’re now hidden beneath a Quick Settings panel in Android 12. Even anything as simple as turning off my lights requires an extra step. I’d like to see Google put back the power controls to the menu.