Latest news with #AndroidCanary
Android Authority
a day ago
- Android Authority
Android 16 is a mess right now
Joe Maring / Android Authority If you're reading this article, chances are you love Android. Or, at the very least, have a fairly high interest in the OS. You probably like staying up-to-date with the latest features, new platform releases, and other happenings with Google's operating system. Unfortunately for people like us, trying to keep up with new Android developments has never been more complicated. And this past week, Google just made it all the more obscure with the release of Android Canary. Stable Android 16? Android 16 QPR1 Beta? Android 16 Developer Preview, which is now Android Canary, which is neither Android 16 nor Android 17? There's no other way around it. Android 16 is currently a mess. What do you think about Android Canary? 0 votes I like it! It seems like a cool way to test new Android features. NaN % Developer Previews were fine, Google should have kept them. NaN % I don't care either way. NaN % Other (let us know in the comments). NaN % The current state of Android 16 Ryan Haines / Android Authority Even before the arrival of Android Canary (which I'll get to soon), Google's entire strategy for Android 16 has been one of the most convoluted ones I've ever seen. Android 16 is a very different release from previous versions, as Google started development much sooner than it typically does. After Android 15 launched in October 2024, the first Android 16 Developer Preview dropped a month later in November, with the stable release arriving on Pixels this past June. This was a dramatically faster development timeline than we typically see, and to Google's credit, it made sense. By fast-tracking Android 16 like this, Google ensured its latest Android version would be ready to ship on the Pixel 10 next month, avoiding the awkward launch of the Pixel 9 series last year, where the phones shipped with Android 14 and didn't receive Android 15 until several months later. Joe Maring / Android Authority However, this also created a rift in Android 16. Despite being a full OS upgrade, the version of Android 16 that launched in June is barely distinguishable from Android 15. That's because all of Android 16's most significant new features — such as Material 3 Expressive, Live Updates, 90:10 split-screen multitasking, and more — aren't in the update. Instead, they won't be available until at least Android 16 QPR1. Android 16 QPR1 is currently in beta, with the full release expected sometime in September. And in a lot of ways, it's the 'real' Android 16 update we're all waiting for. So, while Android 16 may have technically had its stable launch last month, the big changes won't be ready for a couple more months still. Got it? Good, because you won't in a minute. The Android Canary of it all Joe Maring / Android Authority On Thursday, Google announced a brand new release track for Android called 'Android Canary.' And it's … weird. Traditionally, Google has had two pre-release versions of Android for people to dabble with ahead of a stable build: Developer Previews and Betas. With Android 16, for example, Google first launched Android 16 Developer Previews for developers to begin working with the new software, followed by the Android 16 Beta, allowing the general public to get an early taste of the update. Android Canary is set to replace Android Developer Previews, serving as the new home of Android's latest and most bleeding-edge features. Simple enough, right? Well, not really. Determining the release timeline for features in Android Canary is impossible. Android Developer Previews are very clearly tied to a specific Android version. Features seen in an Android 16 Developer Preview, for example, are almost certain to be found in the Android 16 Beta and public release. But Android Canary doesn't work that way. Google classifies Android Canary as its own version of Android. Android Canary isn't technically a preview of Android 16 or Android 17. It's not tied to any numbered Android build; it's just Android Canary. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority As such, it makes determining the release timeline for features in Android Canary impossible. Some Android Canary features may be available as soon as Android 16 QPR1, but others might not be ready until Android 16 QPR2. Furthermore, it's entirely possible that parts of Android Canary won't be seen in a public release until Android 17 or later. Since Android Canary isn't beholden to any other Android version and is now its own thing, we have no idea about the cadence in which features will go from Canary -> Beta -> Public release. And if you think that sounds annoying, I'm right there with you. Not an issue for everyone, but a mess nonetheless Robert Triggs / Android Authority Google's stark split between Android 16 and Android 16 QPR1 had already made this specific Android version fairly confusing, and going forward with Android Canary, that confusion is bound to deepen. With Developer Previews, we at least had a decent idea of when new features would trickle down from those to Betas and stable releases. But with Android Canary, that's all out the window. Canary has only been around for a few days and is already complicating the release timeline for new Android features — and I can only imagine what things will look like six months or a year from now. The counterargument to all of this is that none of it matters to 'normal' people. For the average person who doesn't care about Developer Previews or Betas and only updates their phone when a stable release is ready, they probably won't notice any difference at all. And, at the end of the day, that's who Google cares about most. Joe Maring / Android Authority However, for those of us who do like following the latest Android happenings, Google has created an utterly chaotic way forward. Maybe this focus on earlier development and the switch to Android Canary will all work out in the end, but right now, all I see is a cluttered and messy cycle that feels like it'll only get worse. Google will continue to develop new Android features, and we'll ultimately receive them in stable releases, just as we always have. But this new path to getting there has never been more complicated, and it's one I'm not looking forward to.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business Standard
Google releases Android 16 QPR1 beta3 for Pixels: New features, eligibility
Google has reportedly started rolling out the Android 16 Quarterly Platform Release Beta 3 (QPR1) to select Pixel smartphones. This final beta version for Android 16 (QPR1) offers a glimpse at the new features including magnify keyboard and taskbar shortcut, but also miss out on few essential features. The upcoming features are mainly focused on usability, productivity and are expected in the upcoming release scheduled for September 3, 2025. Android Authority shared a list of upgrades that the Android 16 QPR1 is bringing. Here are the details. Magnify keyboard As per the report, a key feature in Beta 3 is a 'magnify keyboard' option which is found under Settings then Accessibility and Magnification. This tool allows users to zoom into the on-screen keyboard to clearly view emojis and letters when using full-screen magnification. It was initially spotted in an Android Canary build earlier this week, its inclusion in Beta 3 suggests it is likely to make it to the final stable version of Android 16 QPR1. Taskbar shortcuts for pinned apps in Desktop Mode Another addition is the ability to quickly pin or unpin apps from the taskbar while using Desktop Mode. Long-pressing an app icon in the app drawer or on the taskbar now shows a context menu with 'pin to taskbar' or 'unpin from taskbar' shortcuts, respectively. These shortcuts are exclusive to devices using Desktop Mode, either on a connected display or the internal display on a tablet. Despite some useful changes, several features from recent Android Canary builds are still not there. These include: Qi2 screen saver features Enhanced HDR brightness option Parental controls menu 90:10 split-screen not available Tablet bubble bar No blurred wallpaper on lock screen How to proceed with the beta The stable version of Android 16 QPR1 is expected on September 3, 2025. However, the QPR2 beta may start before that. If you want the stable update, you should consider unenrolling from the program after receiving Beta 3. Staying enrolled will likely result in your device being automatically updated to the next beta track (QPR2) instead of the stable build.
Android Authority
6 days ago
- Android Authority
Android's hidden phone info menu is finally getting organized
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Android Canary is showing a change to the hidden phone information menu. There's a new entry called 'Phone Information V2.' The new entry separates information that was on one page into four categories: Device Details, Data & Network, Satellite, and IMS. Did you know that Android has secret short codes you can use to gain quick access to certain features or information? You just have to enter one of the codes into the dialer to trigger an action or be taken to a hidden menu. In Android Canary, it looks like one of these hidden menus is getting a change. When you type in *#*#4636#*#* into the dialer, your phone will show you a hidden menu with options including Phone information, Usage statistics, and Wi-Fi information. Most people who know about this hidden menu tend to use it to force-lock their network to 3G, 4G, or 5G, so it doesn't switch automatically. Something we noticed in Android Canary is that this menu now has a fourth entry — Phone Information V2. Previously, all of the details in the Phone information option were presented on one page. This new option separates that information into four different tabs: Device Details, Data & Network, Satellite, and IMS. As expected, the tabs neatly bin all relevant information into the categories they belong in. The Satellite tab is particularly interesting as it is completely new. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
3 new Android 16 features to try thanks to Android Canary
Android 16 is here and there are already a bunch of fun new features to try out, but more are on the way. You can actually try some of them right now thanks to Android Canary, Google's brand new delivery mechanism for upcoming feature testing for Android. Per 9to5Google, the first Android Canary update is here, bringing with it a small handful of minor new features. They aren't big, game-changing additions, but they do sound nice. Here are three you should try. Before we get started, a brief word of warning: Installing unfinished Android builds on your personal device can be dangerous for reasons that I hope are obvious. Do it at your own risk. 1. Hide the AI button Easily the most appealing new feature in the latest Android Canary update to me, personally, is the ability to hide the AI button from the Pixel search bar that sits on your phone's home screen. Typically, the search bar just has two buttons: One for voice search and one for photo search. These days, there's a third button that activates AI mode, but a new toggle in the settings menu lets you turn that off entirely so you never accidentally press it. 2. Enhanced HDR It's not clear yet how profound an effect it has, but there's a new "Enhanced HDR Brightness" toggle in the settings menu that is supposed to improve image quality on anything that supports HDR. Specifically, as its name suggests, HDR content should be brighter after you turn this on. HDR is great when configured correctly, but it can sometimes produce dimmer images, so this is a good setting to have, assuming it works. 3. A new, separate parental controls menu This last one is less a new feature and more a reorganization of the settings menu, but there's now a dedicated "Parental Controls" menu where there wasn't before. Previously, parental controls were bundled into the "Digital Wellbeing" menu, which still exists, but is now separate from parental controls. Again, it doesn't seem like there are any new parental control options at the moment, but it's nice that this is now its own separate part of the settings menu.
Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Indian Express
Google introduces Android Canary for early developer testing
Google recently launched their Android Canary release channel to replace their traditional developer previews. Only those with Pixel smartphones and tablets are likely to get access to Google's upcoming features on Android smartphones. The company's Android Beta for Pixel programme has long allowed interested users to sign up and receive access to in-development builds of major new releases, like Android 16, months before they are released publicly. For those who like early previews, Google announced something even better – Android Canary. The initial Android Canary update offers a goes beyond tweaks to user interface, however, there are many yet to be known features which will be revealed much later. The Android Canary is intended for developers who wish to explore and test the earliest pre-released Android APIs and potential changes. In addition to Google's automated testing, builds from the Google Platform Android Canary channel will briefly be tested by internal users. While testing Android Canary, users can expect bugs and breaking changes or modifications that could disrupt the compatibility of the software. These bleeding edge builds may not be suitable for someone who uses this platform on their primary device, testing it on a spare Pixel device is recommended. The existing Beta channel will run simultaneously to the Android Canary to make sure that the apps are both compatible with and take advantage of upcoming platform features. When it comes to issues, they will now be directly addressed by the Canary channel, through over-the-air (OTA) updates, you can now obtain a continuous, rolling stream of the most recent platform builds on your compatible Pixel device to the Canary release channel. In the early stages of proposed behaviour changes and new features, developers can test them out and offer feedback. There are possibilities that these modifications will not always appear in a stable Android release. Through the Beta programme, users can still test a more polished set of features that might be released shortly. Canary builds can also be used with Computer Interface to see whether any of the in-development features cause unexpected problems with your app, which will maximise the time we have to address your concerns. Although the Developer Preview programme has been an essential component of Google's release cycle, there were inherent limitations in its structure. Developer Previews needed to be manually flashed to devices each time the cycle restarted because they were not connected to a release channel. Earlier, previews were only accessible in the early stages of the cycle since they were linked to the upcoming official Android release. The preview track would terminate once a platform version entered the Beta stage, leaving features that showed promise but were not yet prepared for Beta without an official avenue for feedback.
