All articles tagged with #android os
Android Canary 2607 reveals Google is prototyping a new Status bar settings section that would let users show or hide the Android Halo AI icon and the mute indicator, with Halo tied to an unreleased Agent Task feature. A separate toggle to hide the mute icon is also in development. The changes aren’t live yet, and APK teardowns predict features that may or may not reach a public release.
Google's Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 is out, reaching Platform Stability with build CP31.260618.005. The update locks the API surface and brings fixes (spell-checker language selection, Clock UI actions, smoother media carousel, WindowManagerGlobal crash fix, and hotspot name fix) plus UI tweaks like a redesigned home-screen context menu, Health Connect metrics expansion, and adjusted desktop windowing with moved taskbar icons and floating PiP windows; available for Pixel 6–10 series and Pixel Tablet devices.
Google is rolling out a system-level Signature app for Android that stores multiple signatures (scribble, initials with fonts, or uploaded photos) and lets apps fetch them as needed, with a Manage Signatures hub to organize assets; the feature ships with the June 2026 Google Play system update and supports Android 12+ (API 31+), though Google hasn’t announced developer-use plans yet.
Android Authority’s readers named the new Bubbles multitasking feature in Android 17 as the top favorite, with praise for opening multiple apps in collapsible bubbles and other popular picks like improved dark mode controls and a cleaner home screen layout.
Android 17 rollout is causing significant touchscreen issues on Pixel devices (Pixel 10, 9, 8, and 7 series), including taps being ignored, dead zones, and reversed scrolling. Google is aware of the problem, but the initial fix isn’t effective for everyone; reported workarounds like clearing the Pixel Launcher cache have mixed results, and some users see improvement by toggling Smooth Display. There’s no firm timeline for a permanent patch, so potential upgraders may want to wait for official fixes.
Android Central argues Android could benefit by copying five iOS 27 features: granular Time Allowances for parental controls; a native automation app akin to Shortcuts; Siri Mode integrated into the Camera app for on‑device actions; Spatial Reframing to alter a photo's perspective after capture; and Image Playground with Private Cloud Compute for advanced AI image generation—urging Google to upgrade parental controls, unify AI features, and deliver system‑level automation to rival Apple's ecosystem.
Google’s June Android Drop focuses on safety: it adds Fake Call Detection in the Phone app to verify calls from known contacts and flag spoofed numbers, expands Personal Safety features for kids 13 and under (lock-screen medical info and emergency contacts, as well as real-time location sharing and Safety Check), and broadens Quick Share/AirDrop-style file sharing to more Android devices and cross‑device transfers to iOS without the internet.
Android 17's QPR1 beta 3 introduces a toggle to hide Gboard's globe icon even when multiple languages are enabled, while still allowing language switching via long-pressing the space bar; Google is also redesigning the keyboard switcher UI, but it's unclear if these changes will reach the stable release, and some third-party keyboards (like SwiftKey) may not support the space-bar switch feature.
Android Authority reports that Samsung’s One UI 8.5 update is triggering dark‑mode glitches in Google apps across Galaxy devices (including S25/S24), showing a mix of black, gray, and light-gray UI. The root cause appears to be a clash between Google’s Material You styling and Samsung’s updated color palette. Workarounds include using a forked Shizuku to revert colors or tweaking the Color Palette/Wallpaper settings, with a potential fix expected in a future update. Samsung has not issued an official statement yet; users can report the issue via the Members app.
Qualcomm confirms its Snapdragon X laptop chip will power Google's new Googlebook, marking the first non-Windows device for the line. The Googlebook runs an Android-based Aluminium OS with Gemini features and on-device AI via the NPU, and will be offered by OEMs including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo with Intel and MediaTek options and possible x86 support. Exact chip variant, pricing and ship date are not yet announced beyond a fall 2026 launch window; more details are expected at Google I/O.
Google released Android 17 QPR1 Beta 1 for Pixel devices, signaling platform stability and a future focus on bug fixes rather than base-feature changes. The CP31.260403.005.A1 build is rolling out to Pixel 6–Pixel 10 devices enrolled in the Android Beta Program and includes fixes for a Default Print Service crash under low ink, Terminal app ANR, and VoIP audio distortion. OTA rollout has begun and factory images are available; the stable Android 17 is expected mid-2026, with additional QPR1 improvements arriving later in the year.
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon and Google's Rick Osterloh announced that Android for PC is in development, aiming to unify mobile and desktop systems, with Android laptops expected to become a reality soon, although no specific release date has been provided.
Samsung has released the March 2024 security patch for the Galaxy A52 in Russia and neighboring countries, with other markets expected to follow soon. The update aims to enhance device security by addressing vulnerabilities in the core Android operating system and Samsung's One UI software. While the Galaxy A52 received its final major Android OS update earlier this year, it will continue to receive regular security updates for another year or two. Users can download the update through the phone's Settings app or by using firmware available in Samsung's archive, though the latter method requires a Windows PC and a USB-C cable.
Samsung has released the November 2023 security update for the Galaxy Z Flip 4, which includes fixes for critical vulnerabilities in the Android OS and security flaws in Samsung's One UI. Users can download the update over the air or manually flash it using Samsung's Odin tool. The update is focused solely on security enhancements and does not include any new features.
The Nothing Phone 2 has received its first significant update, bringing camera improvements such as 2x zoom for portrait mode and motion capture support for the 50MP mode. Other new features include a Nothing-style photo watermark, optimized photo clarity for zoomed shots, improved camera quality in third-party apps, and the availability of the Glyph Composer app on the Google Play Store. Users can now add widgets to their lock screen/Always-on display and quick settings widgets to their home or lock screens. The update also includes new wallpapers and a one-handed mode.