Maybe there may be a few good improvements in Android 13 after all.
Only a few of the world’s greatest smartphones have been running Android 12 for a few weeks, but we’re already looking forward to Android 13. A developer preview of Google’s next major mobile operating system has already been released. In addition, this year’s stable launch seems to be significantly early than in previous years.
Here, we take a peek at what the next big Android update has in store.
The first Developer Preview of Android 13 has been released by Google. For the smartphone OS, it means a fall release for the next version of Android is triggered. And Android 13 is set to follow suit.
Android 13’s first developer preview is currently available. If you remember, the first developer preview of Android 12 was released around this time last year.
Even with the recent release, there is still a lack of information on Android 13’s user-facing features. Even still, there are a few hints as to what Android 5.0 may include, like a new QR code scanner and similar features that make it seem iterative. Nevertheless, that’s what we felt about Android 12 before Google released the Material You bombshell..
Until now, this is all we know about Android 13.
Android 13: Name and release date
Prior to Android 10, Google’s operating systems were all named after sweets. Despite the fact that it now uses a numerical system, it still refers to its products internally as confectionery. We now know that Android 13’s codename is “Tiramisu” thanks to the initial developer preview. For the first time in a long time, Google has been so open about the codename.
Google has released a timeline for Android 13’s release. Assuming that timeline holds true, we may anticipate at least two developer previews, four betas, and a stable release somewhere in August 2022. In the meanwhile, keep an open mind. A lot may happen in the time between now and then.
Rumors on when Android 13 will be released
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.
As soon as we saw that timeframe, we assumed that the final version of Android 13 will be released in autumn, around the launch of the Pixel 7 However, Google’s annual I/O conference, which is expected to take place in May, will likely provide more 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. The announcement of Android 13 at Google I/O may be a bit earlier than normal, but we can still anticipate a lot from the operating system there.
Android 13: Design changes
One of the most major UI updates in years came with Android 12’s introduction of Material You. Customization possibilities have been expanded, from wallpaper-based colour palette settings to more understandable animations, with the new interface. It doesn’t seem like Google is making such a big overhaul with Android 13, but new features and design adjustments are still on the way.
Automated icon themeing
When the first developer preview was released, Google published the screenshots above. It seems like Android 12’s icons will be able to be customised in the same way as the rest of the operating system in the 2022 version of Android.
There are two problems with this, though. While initially this will only be accessible for Pixel smartphones, that may change in the near future. The second limitation is that Material You will only function with applications that have a monochromatic icon.
Expect a bare-bones themeing experience when Android 13 is released in the near future. As Google envisions, it may be some time before this genuinely becomes as automated as they want.
Options for customising your website’s appearance based on more relevant content
New colour palettes, based on leaked source code, may be added to Android 13’s color-theming choices, according to a rumoured source.
Tonal SPOT, EXPRESSIVE, and SPRITZ are just a few examples of these experiences. Both of the first two selections are fairly similar, while the following two represent a dramatic change from the existing Android 12 themeing system. Expressive seems to tend for colours that aren’t taken straight from the wallpaper, while Spritz favours more muted, neutral tones.
Many people are searching for more fine-grained control, but this is a good starting point. It’s possible that this functionality will be included in the future stable version of Android 12L, but it’s quite unlikely
Potential features for Android 13
So far, we only have a few details on Android 13’s feature list, thanks to the Developer Preview 1 build’s inclusion of a few new features. Rumored features from Android Police, on the other hand, may fill in the gaps.
For Android 13’s first developer preview, a new Photo Picker function was included, which is based on an iOS 15 feature. For example, you may select whether to share just the photographs you want or the whole collection with an app. Apps will only be able to view the data you want to share with them, which further protects your privacy.
Another new feature in the Android 13 developer version is the inclusion of a Wi-Fi aspect to the Nearby Device permission. Allowing applications to access your phone’s knowledge about nearby Wi-Fi access points is made possible by the NEARBY WIFI DEVICES permission.
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. According to the Android 13 developer preview, this feature will be available to third-party applications.
Two new QR code scanner settings may be seen in screenshots acquired by Android Police. In the first place, unlocking your phone from the lock screen allows you to use your phone’s scanner to scan restaurant menus. This would be very appreciated.
In order to compete with Apple’s HomePods and the iPhone’s media playback handoff function, Android may soon receive its own version of the feature. If you’re unaware, you can transfer media from your iPhone to a HomePod mini. If the information from Android Police’s source is accurate, then “Media TTT,” or Media Tap-to-Transfer, may be coming to Android 13. This would enable you to stream media from your phone to a Nest speaker or similar device by a simple touch. Exactly how this works is still a mystery.
Android Police believes that Google isn’t going to stop with a picture picker, but rather any media output picker. Your phone’s speakers, Bluetooth earphones, etc. may all be used to play your media in this section. As can be seen from the images provided, the volume bar in Android 12 will include a rounded, full-size option similar to the new main volume bar.
Our wish list for Android 13
In the same way that Android 5.0 Lollipop was not an easy transition to Material Design, Android 12 was not either. Hundreds of Google employees work on this, yet at the end of the day, they’re all just individuals. Errors and omissions are inevitable.
The following are some features I’d want to see in Android 13, and I’m sure I’ll think of more as time goes on.
No mystery that Android 12 had a bumpy start, with several issues. Despite the fact that I haven’t encountered any problems, I’m aware that many others have. Many issues arose when Material You was introduced in 2014, such as when Lollipop was released. It was inevitable that problems would arise, but I hope Android 13 will fix them.
The Wi-Fi Quick Settings tile should be resurrected: Google consolidated the Quick Settings mobile data and Wi-Fi options into one dubbed “Internet” in Android 12. As a result, switching networks or turning on Wi-Fi is a pain. I’d prefer it if this modification was undone, just as it was in Android 11.
A new feature in Android 12 is the ability to take screenshots while scrolling, however this is only available in certain applications. The absence of a “View-based UI” feature in applications meant that scrolling screenshots were no longer possible. Please provide scrolling screenshots for all applications and scenarios in Android 13 as other other Android phones have had for a long time now.
It was possible to access your smart home controls from the power menu in Android 11. They’re hidden under a Quick Settings tile in Android 12. To accomplish something as simple as turning off my lights, it’s only one more step. Google should put back the power menu controls, in my opinion.