Google launched Android 11 beta for Pixel phones after it cancelled the June 3 unveiling event due to the ongoing protests.
After multiple developer previews for the upcoming update to Android, the OS has reached beta phase and brings a number of new features that Google has categorised into three groups: People, Controls and Privacy.
Android 11 beta brings chat bubbles, improved media controls, and improved control over sensitive permissions. Additionally, Google also released several new features in Android Studio 4.1 Beta and 4.2 Canary.
Android 11
Google explained it is making Android more “people-centric and expressive” so that it can recognise and prioritize certain conversations.
The notifications in Android 11 beta are divided into three categories namely, conversations, alerting notifications, and silent notifications.
As the name suggests, the conversations section that is on top shows all the chat related notifications. The alerting notifications section shows information like emails while the silent notifications section shows social media updates.
The conversation section also allows users to create a conversation shortcut on their home screen or set a reminder.
Android 11 beta introduces chat bubbles similar to what we’ve previously seen with apps like Facebook Messenger. This bubble feature has now been integrated into the OS. Google says this is better for multi-tasking and keeping conversations in view.
Essentially, these bubbles will help users respond to conversations without having to switch between the current app and the messaging app.
Android 11 beta adds improved and consolidated keyboard suggestions that offer “context-specific entities and strings” in the suggestion strip. This means users will get more relevant suggestions while typing, according to Tech news.
However, it is unclear whether this will be exclusive to Google’s Gboard or work with third party keyboards as well.
Also, Google implemented an on-device visual cortex for improved voice access. It can understand what’s on the screen and generate labels for better voice commands.
Noteworthy, Google given developers until August 27 to implement any necessary adjustments to make their additions strictly abide by Google’s strict rules.
Google wants to improve this through a set of new rules and policies that will be implemented soon, and all developers must adhere to them or their add-ons will be deleted from the store.
Here is a list of new prohibitions that developers are prohibited from doing:
* The add-on is not allowed to obtain a better position in the search results by manipulating the number of downloads or ratings and reviews.
* The add-ons that you only use are not allowed to run another application or access a specific site.
* It is not allowed for the add-ons that misuse the notifications through displaying ads, annoying promotions, phishing, or any other spam messages that are used by the user and harm the browsing experience.
Google Chrome is the world’s most popular browser, and for good reason. It’s packed with useful tools that connect you to the internet every day, like dark mode, toolbar playback controls and a “privacy sandbox” coming later this year.
But it’s also hard to keep up with all the browser changes. After all, you can’t very well store your login credentials in Chrome’s password manager if you don’t know it exists.
Chrome load up like it’s never been on the internet before, without browsing history and cookies, and will block access to other Chrome profiles,like the one where you keep all your usernames and passwords.
And the only browser setting guest mode users can change is the default search engine, so you’ll get your browser back more or less the way you had it.
