Android 12 finally out of beta, rolls out soon for Google Pixel smartphones

You'll have to wait a little longer for Android 12.

What you need to know

Google announced the official stable rollout of Android 12
The update comes with a host of new features for the platform, including dynamic theming, updated widgets, and enhanced privacy settings.
Google Pixel smartphones will be the first to receive Android 12, with other OEMs following.

After months of developer previews and beta builds, Google has finally released the stable Android 12 build to the Android Open Source Project. However, it won't arrive on Pixel smartphones just yet.

Pixel owners that didn't participate in the beta program will soon have access to a massive visual overhaul for Android, with the new Material You design language and dynamic theming. With this, your system colors and accents can change based on your wallpaper for a more cohesive look across the OS.

This new Material You theming also applies to apps, with Google updating its suite of applications to take advantage of the new look. Widgets are also getting new looks with more shapes and designs.

Besides the visual overhaul, privacy is also a big focus with Android 12. The update includes the new Privacy Dashboard which shows you the apps that have access to certain data like location or the mic, including when these peripherals are being used. There are also new indicators when the camera and mic are in use, and users now have the option to revoke system-wide access to either.

Other enhancements include improvements to gaming with features like "Play as you download," better performance for notifications, new media transcoding tools, and plenty of changes under-the-hood.

As usual, Android 12 will roll out first on Google devices like the Pixel 5a all the way down to the Pixel 3. Some of the best Android phones from other OEMs like Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, and others that participated in the beta are also expected to receive Android 12 relatively soon, although availability depends largely on the manufacturer. T-Mobile has already released a list of phones that are expected to be updated to Android 12.

Pixel owners should receive a notification for the update when it becomes available in the next few weeks, but you can always manually check by navigating to Settings > About phone > System updates. That goes for anyone already on the beta release.

Google hasn't announced a specific date for the rollout on Pixel devices, but it's likely we'll see Android 12 launch when the Google Pixel 6 does. Google notes that it will have more to say about Android 12 at the Android Dev Summit on October 27.

Try Android 12

Google Pixel 5a

$449 at Google

Energizer Pixel

The Google Pixel 5a is an affordable smartphone with amazing battery life that doesn't seem to quit. It comes with a pair of great cameras, 5G connectivity, and will be among the first to get Google's newest software updates, including Android 12.

Source: androidcentral

Apple and Meta Reportedly Discussed AI Partnership for iOS 18

Apple has held discussions with Meta about integrating the Facebook owner's AI model into iOS 18 as part of its Apple Intelligence feature set, according to a report over the weekend. Meta launched Llama 2, its large language model, in July 2023, and in April, the company released the latest versions of its AI models, called Llama 3 . The Wall Street Journal reports that the two longtime rivals have held talks about offering Meta's model as an additional option to OpenAI's ChatGPT. The paywalled report notes that the discussions haven't been finalized and could fall through. As part of Apple Intelligence, Apple has announced a partnership with OpenAI that will allow Siri to access ChatGPT directly in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia to provide better responses in relevant situations. Using ChatGPT will be optional, so users with concerns about the technology can abstain and still make use of Apple's own new AI features. Speaking at WWDC 2024, Apple's

Here Are the macOS Sequoia Features Intel Macs Won't Support

When Apple released macOS Monterey in 2021, some key features required a Mac with Apple silicon. The same scenario played out with macOS Ventura in 2022, and then again the following year with the release of macOS Sonoma. With macOS Sequoia set to arrive in the fall, which new features can Intel Mac owners expect to be unavailable to them this time around? Apple says that macOS Sequoia is compatible with the same Macs as macOS Sonoma, but Apple's fine print reveals that certain new features won't work on Intel machines. If you're still on an Intel Mac, here's what you won't have access to. Apple Intelligence Apple Intelligence , a deeply integrated, personalized AI feature set for Apple devices that uses cutting-edge generative artificial intelligence to enhance the user experience, won't be available on Intel Macs. Apple says the advanced features require its M1 chip or later, so if your Mac was released before November 2020, you're out of luck. T

iPhone 16 Pro Models to Adopt 'M14' Advanced Samsung OLED Panels for Improved Brightness and Lifespan

The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be the first Apple smartphones to adopt Samsung's high performance "M14" OLED display panel, claims a new report coming out of South Korea. According to ETNews , Samsung's "M" series of OLED panels are made for flagship smartphones, while "14" refers to the number of high-performance materials used to produce them. "M14" is the first series of its kind, and the panel is said to have been developed to deliver superior brightness and longevity. Samsung has reportedly placed orders for the M14 materials and is preparing to mass produce the displays in the second half of the year for Apple's iPhone 16 Pro models. Google's Pixel 9 smartphone is the only other device that is expected to adopt the high-performance displays in 2024. A previous report out of China claimed that this year's ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models will feature up to 1,200 nits of typical SDR brightness – a 20%

Apple Boosts A18 Chip Orders in Anticipation of High iPhone 16 Demand

Apple is said to have upped its order of next-generation chips from TSMC to between 90 million and 100 million units, following heightened demand expectations for its iPhone 16 series. Last year's initial chip order volume for the iPhone 15 series launch is believed to have been in the region of 80-90 million units, suggesting Apple is anticipating higher demand for its 2024 devices, according to Taiwanese outlet CTEE . The arrival of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18 is expected to boost initial sales of the devices. One of the reasons is that Apple Intelligence requires at least an iPhone 15 Pro to run, which means owners of last year's iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will miss out on Apple's new AI features unless they upgrade to an iPhone 15 Pro or plump for one of the iPhone 16 models. Last year, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus were equipped with the A16 Bionic chip – the same chip that was in the iPhone 14 Pro models – whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max f

Tech Talk

Search This Blog