Tag: Android Q

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Android Q Beta Developer Preview Available for OnePlus 7 Series

OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro users can now try the Android Q Beta 3 and check out all the new features by themselves now that OnePlus has announced that their flagship gets a taste of that new Android version.

The Android Q Developer preview was already released for OnePlus 6 and 6T after Google I/O, and OnePlus did promise to bring the latest beta to the incoming series.

OnePlus 7 Series Gets Android Q Beta – Developer Preview

On the OnePlus forums, we spotted the announcement revealing that the OnePlus 7 Series is now in the Android Q Beta and that users can get an early glimpse at the next Android operating system. The forum post also warns users that only developers or early adopters that know the risks of trying the beta software:

As it is still in an early stage of development, we do not recommend flashing this ROM if you have little or no experience in software development or flashing custom ROMs.

Users that want to try the latest Android Q beta build should know that the software is still unfinished and will offer an unstable experience. Consider using another smartphone as your daily driver if you want to try Android Q on the OnePlus 7. Here are some of the known issue for the OnePlus 7 series:

  • Ambient Display is not working
  • System stability issues
  • Cannot send SMS when VoLTE is on
  • Navigation gesture is not working
  • Recovery mode doesn’t work
  • Some apps may not function as expected when running on this Developer preview release
  • Issue with MTP that doesn’t allow you to copy rollback file from PC to Phone

If you want to load the latest ROM upgrade, follow the instructions provided in the official forum post (link provided above). Remember that this is a developer preview, not a stable build. As always, make sure you have enough battery and minimum 3GB of storage space for the new upgrade. Also, make sure you backup your data before flashing your device!

OnePlus has already released the kernel source code for the OnePlus 7 series.

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Google I/O 2019 Keynote Goes Live Today: What to Expect From This Year’s Event?

Today, Google’s conference for developers known as Google I/O will begin, revealing their new tech and initiative. While a few years earlier Google was only showcasing new tech, starting with 2016, it has shifted into a slightly different perspective.

It began with integrating Google devices into homes, continued with the arrival and development of AI, and last year it even ended with recommending people to use its products less.

We all remember the “Digital Wellbeing” initiative from CEO Sundar Pichai’s keynote in 2018. It was that moment when we all realized that the developers’ conference has shifted towards the public, showing the world how the company wants to be seen:

It’s clear technology can be a positive force, but it’s equally clear that we can’t just be wide-eyed at the innovations technology creates. Now the path ahead needs to be navigated carefully and deliberately, and we feel a deep sense of responsibility to get this right.

Google I/O in 2019 – May 7 – 9

This year, Google will surely announce more smart devices, Assistant should be improved, and AI could migrate to more devices. We will also see home devices, such as Nest Hub Max smart display, being revealed.

The Android operating system should also be part of this event. Android Q will be the star of the event, and so should be the new Pixel 3A and 3A XL phones, which have already been leaked.

We will certainly learn more about the Stadia gaming service as well.

While last year we had “Digital Wellbeing,” Google could make this year be one where they assure the public and fans that they’re a reliable and responsible company. Now let’s see how we can watch the event which will start today and end on May 9.

The event is taking place in Mountain View, California, at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. The most important piece should be the keynote which will begin at 10 am PT (1 pm ET).

If you want to see all of this and more, check out the next links where you can watch the event live.

Keynote starts at: New York: 1 pm, San Francisco: 10 pm, London: 6 pm, Berlin: 7 pm, Moscow: 8 pm, New Delhi: 10:30 pm, Beijing: 1 am (May 8), Tokyo: 2 am (May 8), Melbourne: 3 am (May 8).

The event will soon begin, and you can watch it live on the Google website or their YouTube Channel.

Check back here for more important updates and our new coverage of the event.

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Google Test A New Android Update System In Android Q Beta

Android Q is still in development, and it looks like Google plans to add some interesting features. Google Pixel owners have access to the beta version of the upcoming OS, and some users discovered that Google might be testing a new way to deliver Android updates.

A few threads surfaced on popular platforms, with select users stating that they received some updates via the download manager feature of the Google Play app. Until now firmware updates could be accessed by using the Settings app and the change may raise some interesting questions.

The new feature may seem a bit odd since it’s different from the usual standard used by the industry. It is believed that the new update protocol would allow the tech corporation to release the updates directly, eliminating the annoying delays which are often caused by OEM and carriers. Faster updates sound good in theory, but there is more to them than the delivery time.

In Android Q Beta, Google tests a new method to deliver Android updates

Many Android users don’t know that updates arrive at a slower pace because manufacturers and carriers have to check how the update interacts with the device before it is released for everyone. Google tried to speed up the process in the past with Project Treble and the A/B Seamless update protocol, but some believe that the rate at which updates are released can be improved.

If the updates aren’t optimized for the device there a high risk of facing major bugs and problems and a bricked device isn’t exactly fun to use.

Select sources claim that some Pixel devices restarted immediately after these updates were installed. No prompts appeared during the process, which appears to be automatic. It is likely that power users will not appreciate this implementation since it takes away some of the freedom provided by the OS.

There is plenty of time to refine the feature before Android Q will become available and it may not make it to the final version. Only time will tell.

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Android Q Brings “Easy Connect” Feature For A More Straightforward WiFi Connection Sharing

We have all been there. Some friends come to visit you. As you talk and exchange memories at least one of them will ask to use your WiFi network. Since its 2019 they will need a password. If you are an organized person, it is likely that you know it by heart. Others will struggle to remember it or track down the sticky note on which it is written. To facilitate the process and improve your life, Android Q will arrive with a new Easy Connect feature.

Once you sign-in on the network by using an Android Q, you will have the option to generate a unique QR code which contains the credentials of your WiFi network. Your guests can scan this code and login without issues.

Third-party apps which offer the same functionality are already available, but the setup process is a bit complicated. A simple tap will do the job in Android Q, and the solution has been certified by the WiFi Alliance. Users will also have the option to add devices to their network by showing a QR code on a display. This feature will require devices which are compatible with the Easy Connect Wi-Fi standard.

How to use the new Easy Connect feature of Android Q

Using the feature

Keep in mind that your device has to run Android Q (which is currently available as a beta for Pixel devices). However, here’s how to use this function:

  • Go to Settings -> Network & Internet
  • Tap on your WiFi network and tap on the gear which can be seen in the upper right side of the screen
  • Select the Share option and enter your passcode to a QR code

Using the QR code

  • Android users:
    • Go to WiFi settings and choose the Add network option
    • You can scan the QR code, and the process will be completed automatically
    • If you use Lens, you can connect directly by pointing the camera at the QR code and tapping on the network name which should appear under the code
  • iOS users:
    • The device has to run iOS 11 or better
    • Open the camera app and point it at the QR code
    • A notification should appear
    • Tap on it, and you are good to go

The new WiFi sharing feature is only available on Android Q which is currently in its Beta phase on Google Pixel smartphones only.

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Android Q Beta 2 Revealed The New Bubbles Multitasking Feature

Google releases the second Android Q Beta. With the first version, we learned that support for foldable smartphones would be brought by Android Q, as well as better privacy and permissions controls, along with some other features. However, our devices will have to wait a while until they benefit from the Android Q Beta 2, but promises written by Google in their release blog post saying that “bug fixes, optimizations, and API updates” will be introduced, along with a great emulator for foldable and a crazy new multitasking feature.

Android is a multitasking lover, and we have seen that from the floating windows and split screens, along with a hidden desktop mode in the Android Q Beta 1. A new multitasking feature will be introduced by Android Q Beta 2, and its name is Bubbles. Bubbles allow the user to minimize an app into a little circle which will float around on the screen above all your other apps.

Android Q Beta 2 rolled out with the new Bubbles multitasking feature

A small UI will be opened if you tap on a bubble. The only demo showed by Google is of the one for a messaging app. A contact can be found in each bubble, and a small chat UI is showed if you tap on the bubble. If you did not forget Facebook’s “Chat Head” UI for Messenger, Bubbles is not different from that, but it is built into the OS.

Google said that Bubbles could be used in a lot of ways, so it is helpful for everybody. “Bubbles are great for messaging because they let users keep important conversations within easy reach. They also provide a convenient view over ongoing tasks and updates, like phone calls or arrival times. They can provide quick access to portable UI, like notes or translations, and can be visual reminders of tasks too.”

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