Latest news with #Android16QPR1
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Business Standard
23-05-2025
- Business Standard
Soon, Samsung might roll out Android 16 beta for select Galaxy smartphones
Google officially unveiled Android 16 during its Android Show: I/O Edition, followed by additional announcements at the Google I/O 2025 keynote. The first Quarterly Platform Release Beta 1 (QPR1) build of Android 16 has already started rolling out for select Pixel devices. Now, attention is turning to Samsung, which is expected to begin its own beta rollout soon—starting with the Galaxy S25 series. Earlier this month, Samsung confirmed that its One UI 8 skin, based on Android 16, would be launching in the 'summer'—indicating that beta testing could begin later this month. According to a report by 9to5Google, Samsung has hinted on its official website that the Android 16 beta will soon be available on select Samsung smartphones. Several support pages spotted on Samsung's regional websites suggest that One UI 8 beta testing may be imminent for devices in key markets such as the US, Germany, the UK, India, and Poland. While these pages don't offer detailed information about One UI 8 features, their presence strongly suggests that internal testing is underway. This mirrors Samsung's typical rollout strategy for past Android versions, where beta testing is gradually expanded across regions and models before a wider release. The stable version of One UI 8, running Android 16, is expected to make its debut with Samsung's upcoming foldable smartphones, which are set to be unveiled in July. What's in Android 16 QPR1 beta build Google's latest Android 16 QPR1 beta introduces a wide range of design refinements and feature upgrades to Pixel smartphones, with a strong focus on customisation, multitasking, and user interface consistency. Leading the update is the integration of the Material 3 Expressive design language, which brings bold visuals and a more cohesive look across the operating system. A new 'Effects' section enhances wallpaper customisation with AI-powered tools that allow users to add shape framing, live weather overlays, and cinematic 3D animations. The lock screen receives a streamlined layout, including clearer clock previews, a colour intensity slider, and grid-based shortcuts for easier navigation. Notification handling has also been revamped, offering Compact and Full list views, smoother swipe gestures, and expanded settings for managing alert visibility and sensitivity. Multitasking sees significant improvements with a redesigned Recents menu, now displaying apps in a consistent four-tile layout for better usability—particularly on foldable devices like the Pixel Fold. The update also replaces older icon-based options with a pill-shaped drop-down menu positioned directly on app cards, making it easier to manage tasks. Additional refinements include an updated volume panel and a new audio-sharing feature that allows multiple users to listen to the same audio source. The At a Glance widget, while still non-removable, has been reduced in size to create space for an extra row of apps or widgets on the home screen. The Settings app has been visually overhauled with category-specific pastel-coloured icons, replacing the previous monochrome design. This change aligns with the broader Material 3 aesthetic, offering a more vibrant and modern user experience without altering functionality. Taken together, these updates reflect Google's ongoing efforts to deliver a more personalised, accessible, and visually engaging Android interface—paving the way for the eventual full release of Android 16 later this year.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Google to let users test Android 16 desktop mode on phones with external display support, here's how
Google has announced that Android phone users will soon be able to test the new desktop mode feature in Android 16. The update, revealed during the Google I/O 2025 developer conference, will bring desktop-like functionality to Android devices when connected to external displays. This feature will roll out in a future quarterly beta release of Android 16. Android 16 Brings Desktop Mode to Phones The desktop mode builds on earlier work introduced in Android 15 for tablets, where Google first experimented with freeform windowing systems. Android 16 will expand this approach by adapting those windowing tools for use on external monitors. The system includes a taskbar for launching pinned or recent apps in resizable windows, creating a layout similar to a traditional desktop environment. Also read: Why Restarting Your Router is a Thing of the Past? During the Developer Keynote, Google confirmed its collaboration with Samsung to enhance this functionality. The team used the foundation of Samsung's DeX platform to create a system that supports multitasking and independent operation of internal and external displays. Android 16 will also introduce platform-level support for connected displays. According to Google, this support will be part of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and will appear in the upcoming developer previews. Also read: Google I/O 2025: AI Mode rolls out in Search, know how it will benefit users Upcoming Beta and Key Features Francesco Romano, a Developer Relations Engineer at Google, confirmed that these updates will appear in Android 16 QPR1's upcoming beta versions. The new features allow devices to manage two displays independently. Apps will remain specific to each screen, and users can shift windows, content, and the mouse cursor between them. Additional technical details shared during the conference include a minimum window size of 386 x 352 dp, support for custom app headers, and the ability for desktop sessions to extend across both internal and external displays when compatible devices are used. Also read: Google I/O 2025: Gemini Live with camera now free for everyone, Veo 3 for AI Ultra and other reveals While Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 does not yet include these tools, Google confirmed that a developer preview supporting external display functions and desktop windowing will arrive shortly. These changes aim to improve productivity by turning Android phones into more versatile tools when paired with larger screens. First Published Date: 23 May, 09:08 IST
Hans India
22-05-2025
- Hans India
Pixel Phones Get Android 16 QPR1 Beta With Redesigned Interface
Google has initiated the rollout of Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1, making the latest version of its design framework, Material 3 Expressive, available to select Pixel devices. This early beta primarily delivers UI enhancements without major functional additions. The update introduces visual changes across the operating system, including refreshed lock screen elements and a redesigned Quick Settings panel. While the stable version of Android 16 remains unreleased, this beta gives testers early access to the new system-wide visual style Google has developed over the past several development cycles. Pixel Devices Eligible for Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 is accessible to devices powered by Google's in-house Tensor chip. The following Pixel models are currently supported: * Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a * Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a * Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a * Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 9a * Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold Owners of compatible devices must enroll through the official Android Beta Program portal using their Google account. Once registration is complete, the beta update is typically pushed to enrolled devices within an hour, though delays may occur. Users are advised to back up data before installation. The Material 3 Expressive revamp aligns various system components under a unified aesthetic. Google has concentrated this update on interface refinement rather than introducing new functionality, signaling a design-focused phase in Android's development cycle. This beta version serves as a testbed for users interested in previewing Android's forthcoming visual direction ahead of its wider release. Developers and enthusiasts now have early access to the latest design updates, allowing them to provide feedback and prepare apps for compatibility.
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Business Standard
22-05-2025
- Business Standard
Google releases Android 16 QPR1 beta for Pixels: New features, eligibility
The new Android 16 QPR beta build brings a redesigned user interface with Material 3 Expressive to compatible Google Pixel smartphones New Delhi Google has begun rolling out the Android 16 Quarterly Platform Release Beta 1 (QPR1) update to select Pixel smartphones. This under-testing update brings the Material 3 Expressive redesign which was showcased at the Android Show I/O Edition recently. 9To5Google shared a list of upgrades that the Android 16 QPR1 is bringing. Let us have a closer look at what all this new beta update will arrive with on select Pixel smartphones. Android 16 QPR1 update: What is new Wallpaper shape and weather 'effects' Google Pixel phones running Android 16 are getting a new 'Effects' feature that adds customisation options to wallpapers, including shape framing, colour overlays, and animated weather effects like rain or snow. Found in the first beta of Android 16 QPR1, this AI-powered tool lets users stylise any chosen image with options like 'Shape,' which frames subjects in themed cut-outs, and 'Weather,' which adds real-time local weather animations. The 'Cinematic' 3D wallpaper effect also now appears under this unified 'Effects' section. Android 16 QPR1 brings a redesigned Recents menu, introducing a more polished and consistent layout across devices, especially on foldables like the Pixel Fold. The update replaces the uneven preview sizes with a uniform grid showing four apps, making multitasking smoother. It also revamps app options—replacing the small icon above previews with a more visible pill-shaped drop-down button that sits directly on top of the app card, offering the same options as before but with improved accessibility. Additionally, the volume slider and panel have also been redesigned, and Audio sharing is rolling out that lets multiple users connect to the same source while listening to music. Style redesign Major visual and functional updates driven by the new Material 3 Expressive design language are coming. The update brings a refreshed UI with bolder, more vibrant icons and overhauls the lock screen customisation experience. Clock settings are now easier to access through a dedicated button, displaying clear previews of styles and a colour intensity slider, alongside dynamic and small size options. Shortcuts on the lock screen now appear in a grid format instead of a carousel, simplifying selection, while the toggle to assign left or right position has been moved to the bottom of the screen. Notification settings have also been expanded—users now get a detailed menu with view types like compact or full, and a new toggle called 'Show seen notifications' that hides alerts once they've been viewed. Silent and sensitive content toggles are included in this redesigned section, offering a more streamlined set-up experience with the expressive visual flair of Android 16. Glance shrinks Android 16 QPR1 brings a long-awaited update to the At a Glance widget on Pixel devices, making it smaller but still not fully removable. While many expected a toggle to disable the persistent widget, that option remains absent in the first beta release. Instead, Google has reduced the widget's size, creating room for an additional row of apps or widgets on the home screen. A prompt in Pixel Launcher notes: 'Enjoy more space for apps'—part of a refreshed layout where grid sizes are now labelled as 'Small,' 'Medium,' 'Large,' and 'XL,' based on icon dimensions rather than row and column counts. Though the inability to disable At a Glance may disappoint some users, the downsized design offers more flexibility in home screen layout and carries over to the lock screen as well. Notification redesign Android 16 QPR1 introduces a refreshed approach to notifications, with changes to both the lock screen layout and notification shade. One of the most visible updates is the addition of shortcut buttons below the notifications panel—a large 'Clear All' button now sits at the centre, flanked by quick-access options for notification history and notification settings. These shortcuts disappear when there are no active notifications. On the lock screen, a new layout system has been added. The default Compact view shows a single notification with minimised icons for others, while a new Full list mode displays multiple notifications, placing the rest in an overflow section. These layout choices are now housed in a full settings page titled 'Notifications on lock screen,' offering more control than the previous pop-up menu. Google has also added smoother swipe animations for dismissing notifications, rounding out a more polished and flexible experience. Setting app redesign One of the more noticeable visual updates in Android 16 QPR1 is the refreshed look of the Settings app, which now features colourful icons across categories. Moving away from its earlier monochrome design, the new layout brings a pastel-themed palette that adds more vibrancy without altering functionality. Each section—such as Connected devices, Network & internet, and Apps—gets its own colour, though some categories share similar tones, like light blue. Others, like System and About phone, retain a grey shade. While the update doesn't introduce any new features, the visual refresh aligns with the broader Material 3 Expressive design language seen across Android 16 QPR1, offering a more playful and modern interface throughout the OS. Additionally, the lock screen has also been redesigned. Android 16 QPR1 update: Eligible devices According to a report by 9To5Google, as of now, all Google Pixel devices powered by Tensor chips are eligible for Android 16 builds. The list of supported models includes the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Pixel 8, 8 Pro, 8a, the Pixel 9 series—comprising the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold—as well as the Pixel Tablet and Pixel Fold. It should also be noted that the update is only available for users enrolled in Google's Android 16 beta programme.
