Latest news with #Android16QPR1
Android Authority
4 days ago
- Android Authority
The best Android 16 features that are already live in One UI 8 beta
Joe Maring / Android Authority Android 16 is now available for Pixel phones, although some of the more exciting features won't be ready until the release of Android 16 QPR1 later this year. On the other hand, Samsung's One UI 8 beta, which is based on Android 16, has already surprised us by going live faster than expected and packing some fundamental features that Pixels don't have yet and won't have until QPR1. Of course, One UI 8 beta also has all of Samsung's apps and design language, as well as any new features Samsung develops for itself, but what I'm interested in here are the new Android 16-based features that I was able to try out. Of all the Android 16 features that Samsung has already implemented in One UI 8, these are my three favorites. Do you think One UI 8 is a good update so far? 278 votes Yeah, I like the changes I'm seeing. 40 % It's OK, but I'm curious to see how it progresses in future betas. 30 % No, I was hoping for more change. 23 % Other (let us know in the comments). 8 % Live Updates With One UI 7, Samsung introduced Live Notifications. Like Apple's Live Activities, Live Notifications make important notifications more accessible. Media controls, ongoing timers, Google Maps directions, and more are shown in a bubble to the left of the selfie camera and integrate with the Now Bar. If Samsung phones already have this feature, why are we discussing it now? Google is adding Live Updates — essentially the same feature — to Android 16, with full functionality expected in the QPR1 update later this year. This is a significant development for Samsung users, as there are relatively few third-party apps that support Samsung's Live Notifications in One UI 7, but app developers should have a greater incentive to support the feature when it's available on Android as a whole and not just Samsung phones. 90:10 split-screen Split-screen multitasking has been a feature of Android for years, and it hasn't changed much since its introduction. OnePlus debuted Open Canvas on the OnePlus Open, a new way of multitasking on a foldable that made a lot more sense than anything else we'd tried. Android 16 is using that as inspiration for the 90:10 split. This allows you to collapse one of the apps, so it only takes up 10% of your screen, giving the other app room to breathe. Tapping the smaller app reverses their positions, so you can swap between them as needed. Ironically, Samsung phones are currently the only Android 16 devices that can use this feature, as Google hasn't included it in the stable Android 16 release for Pixels, nor in the current betas for Android 16 QPR1. Hopefully that'll change soon, as I'd love to use this on my Pixel 9 Pro. Advanced Protection Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority Advanced Protection isn't as flashy or cool as the previous two entries, but it is an important addition to Android 16. It's a collection of features designed to keep your phone and data safe. Some of these security features are new, while others have been present in previous versions of Android and are now grouped under Advanced Protection. Existing features, such as Theft Protection Lock, blocking APK installation, Android Safe Browsing, and more, are all enabled when Advanced Protection is activated. New features include a USB Protection mode that defaults new USB connections to charging only while your phone is locked, automatically restarting your phone if it has been left idle for 72 hours, and more. None of that is as exciting as Live Updates, but I'm glad to see it in Android 16. Many of you reading this probably know not to install a dodgy APK from a random website or how to spot a scam call. Many people, however, don't, and enabling all these features on my grandparents' phones with one toggle, allowing me to worry less about them, is something I welcome. Will this completely resolve the spam and malicious software problems in the world? Of course not, but anything that makes combating them easier is a good thing. Android 16 isn't a huge overhaul of Android, but there are still some cool new features that I'm looking forward to trying when they land. I'm just glad I get to try some of them already in One UI 8 beta, which already feels less rushed and less hacked together than One UI 7 did. What are you looking forward to in Android 16 and One UI 8? Let me know in the comments.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Time of India
Google confirms developing patch for an ‘old bug' it didn't fix with Android 16: What is it
Google has reportedly left a months-old dark mode bug in the initial release of Android 16. However, the company has now confirmed that it is planning to roll out a fix for the same with the next Pixel Drop. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This issue, which affects the system's dark mode schedule, was introduced in a previous Pixel update release in March. In a developer blog, the company has now confirmed that a solution is in development and is currently being tested in Android 16 QPR1 (Quarterly Platform Release), which will eventually become a Pixel Feature Drop . This comes after Google's Pixel phones received a significant update this week with the launch of Android 16. The update brings enhanced security, new contact features, and improved button navigation, yet this specific dark mode bug was not addressed in the first release. Apart from this bug fix, Google is also expected to release other features like desktop windowing and Material 3 Expressive in the upcoming updates. How is this bug affecting Pixel phone users Android introduced a system-wide dark theme in Android 10 to reduce eye strain in low-light environments. Even with Google's apps gradually adopting dark mode, the support for the same has been reliable for five years now. It includes an option to schedule light/dark transitions based on custom times or sunrise/sunset. However, a bug introduced in March broke scheduling whenever users manually toggle dark mode; restoring it requires recreating the schedule and never toggling again. Initially dismissed as 'intended behaviour,' the glitch is now acknowledged as a valid issue but remains unfixed in the latest Pixel build. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Android 16 QPR1, which is now in its second beta, will become stable in September, bringing desktop windowing and the new Material theme. Yet Google isn't planning to patch dark mode scheduling until after launch. With Android 16 arriving months earlier under Google's new bi-annual update schedule (major in Q2, minor in Q4), several features and fixes are still in progress. As a result, this simple UI bug persists longer than in past release cycles. Android 16 IS HERE! Live Notifications, Tablet Desktop Mode & MORE!
India Today
12-06-2025
- India Today
Google reducing battery life of Pixel 6a with software update, says it has a good reason for it
Google says it will reach out to users who will be impacted by this update It says the update is necessary for safety Google will contact impacted users in July Google will soon release a mandatory software update for certain Pixel 6a smartphones that will reduce the device's battery capacity and charging performance. While the news will certainly disappoint Pixel 6a users, the company claims it has valid reasons for doing so. According to Google, the update will be released to prevent the risk of battery overheating in Pixel 6a devices after extended use. In a statement (via 9to5Google), Google confirmed that it will release a mandatory update for the Pixel 6a that will reduce battery capacity and charging performance after the device's battery reaches 400 charge cycles. Google says the update is necessary for safety and will also introduce new battery management features that kick in once the phone reaches that threshold. 'A subset of Pixel 6a phones will require a mandatory software update to reduce the risk of potential battery overheating,' Google said. 'The update will enable battery management features that will reduce capacity and charging performance after the battery reaches 400 charge cycles. We'll contact impacted customers next month, with all the information they need to address the issue.' However, not all Pixel 6a units will be affected. According to Google, only some 6a devicesâ€'presumably identified based on their battery health or manufacturing batchâ€'will be impacted. The company says it will directly contact affected users in July. However, the actual rollout of the software update may take longer, and Pixel 6a owners may not see the change immediately. Google's plan to release an update to tackle overheating issues was first spotted when code referencing a 'battery overheating issue' was found in the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 release. The code pointed to a support page that is not yet live, but it hints at Google's ongoing efforts to pre-empt hardware failures. The update follows after many users flagged the issue of Pixel 6a units experiencing battery failures. As reported by Android Authority, at least two users recently shared that their Pixel 6a devices caught fire while charging. One Reddit user claimed their phone 'spontaneously combusted in the middle of the night.' Although these are isolated cases, they appear to have triggered Google's latest preventive action. Notably, the situation is similar to what some Pixel 4a users faced. In that case, some users received an update that quietly reduced battery life in response to overheating risks. At the time, Google had offered battery replacements to those affected. It remains to be seen if Google will take similar steps for Pixel 6a users. Meanwhile, Google also announced an extended repair programme earlier this year for Pixel 7a units with swollen batteries. Google will soon release a mandatory software update for certain Pixel 6a smartphones that will reduce the device's battery capacity and charging performance. While the news will certainly disappoint Pixel 6a users, the company claims it has valid reasons for doing so. According to Google, the update will be released to prevent the risk of battery overheating in Pixel 6a devices after extended use. In a statement (via 9to5Google), Google confirmed that it will release a mandatory update for the Pixel 6a that will reduce battery capacity and charging performance after the device's battery reaches 400 charge cycles. Google says the update is necessary for safety and will also introduce new battery management features that kick in once the phone reaches that threshold. 'A subset of Pixel 6a phones will require a mandatory software update to reduce the risk of potential battery overheating,' Google said. 'The update will enable battery management features that will reduce capacity and charging performance after the battery reaches 400 charge cycles. We'll contact impacted customers next month, with all the information they need to address the issue.' However, not all Pixel 6a units will be affected. According to Google, only some 6a devicesâ€'presumably identified based on their battery health or manufacturing batchâ€'will be impacted. The company says it will directly contact affected users in July. However, the actual rollout of the software update may take longer, and Pixel 6a owners may not see the change immediately. Google's plan to release an update to tackle overheating issues was first spotted when code referencing a 'battery overheating issue' was found in the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 release. The code pointed to a support page that is not yet live, but it hints at Google's ongoing efforts to pre-empt hardware failures. The update follows after many users flagged the issue of Pixel 6a units experiencing battery failures. As reported by Android Authority, at least two users recently shared that their Pixel 6a devices caught fire while charging. One Reddit user claimed their phone 'spontaneously combusted in the middle of the night.' Although these are isolated cases, they appear to have triggered Google's latest preventive action. Notably, the situation is similar to what some Pixel 4a users faced. In that case, some users received an update that quietly reduced battery life in response to overheating risks. At the time, Google had offered battery replacements to those affected. It remains to be seen if Google will take similar steps for Pixel 6a users. Meanwhile, Google also announced an extended repair programme earlier this year for Pixel 7a units with swollen batteries. Join our WhatsApp Channel
Android Authority
11-06-2025
- Android Authority
The latest Android 16 beta now lets you throttle your Pixel's battery, charging
Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR The Android 16 QPR1 beta 2 update apparently brings the battery health assistance feature. This feature effectively throttles your charging speed and battery over time in the name of battery health. The feature also comes after numerous reports of battery issues affecting older Pixel phones. Google announced a battery health assistance feature alongside the Pixel 9a earlier this year. The feature effectively throttles your charging speed and battery over time. Now, it looks like the option is rolling out to other Pixel owners as part of the Android 16 QPR1 beta 2 release. Telegram user SaMede0 spotted the battery health assistance option on their Pixel 7 Pro after updating to Android 16 QPR1 beta 2. Check out their screenshots below. Google's support page notes that this feature 'adjusts the battery's maximum voltage' in stages to help with long-term battery health. These voltage adjustments take place in stages, starting at 200 charging cycles and extending to 1,000 cycles. Unsurprisingly, the company adds that you might see small decreases in battery life and a 'slight change' to charging performance. Google previously confirmed that battery health assistance is mandatory on the Pixel 9a but an optional feature on other Pixel phones. This confirmation came after the company initially delayed the Pixel 9a's release due to a 'component quality issue.' The feature's availability to beta users also follows a string of user reports about older Pixel-A phones with serious battery issues. We've seen several users report that their Pixel 6a caught fire while plugged into a non-OEM charger, while Google recently announced a battery replacement program for Pixel 7a phones with swollen batteries. Furthermore, Google previously issued an update to some Pixel 4a models that drastically reduced battery life. Google didn't issue a public reason for this update, but Australia's consumer watchdog confirmed that some Pixel 4a batteries were at risk of overheating. 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.
Hans India
11-06-2025
- Hans India
Android 16 Launches with New Features, Major Redesign Set for September
Google officially rolled out Android 16 on Tuesday, bringing several new features to Pixel devices. However, the much-anticipated Material 3 Expressive redesign has not yet made its debut and is expected to arrive later this year. According to Android Authority's Mishaal Rahman, Google plans to launch the revamped Material 3 Expressive interface on September 3, 2025. The redesign promises to introduce updated icon shapes, modernised type styles, and vibrant colour palettes, paired with 'more natural, springy animations' throughout the Android system. While Android 16 offers early access to some design tweaks through the Android 16 QPR1 beta, the full Material 3 Expressive experience will likely appear in Beta 2 of the same release. In terms of functionality, Android 16 introduces Live Updates, offering progress-centric notifications and enhanced support for users with hearing aids. Though this feature is currently rolling out to Pixel devices, Google has stated that it won't be fully realised until a future update. Also on the horizon is Android's desktop mode, expected to launch in September. Inspired by Samsung's DeX platform, this feature allows users to connect their phones or tablets to external displays for a full desktop-like experience. It supports multiple resizable app windows and improved content optimisation for large screens. Currently, users with Pixel 8 and newer can test the desktop features via the Android 16 beta, while other Android users will need to wait a bit longer.
