ANDROID Q: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

There is the new kid on the block, the newest Android version has entered the public beta mode, It comes with a smarter AI, more privacy and a new dark mode

Google recently unveiled its newest Android platform update, the next version of the Android operating system, Android 10 Q at its IO developer conference. Google introduced a whole new range of new features such as AI advances, gestures and Privacy advances.

Google has not yet named the new update but it marks a new shift in the way how things should function in a smartphone.

When can I get it?

Google has released the third Public beta of Android Q this month and if you own a Google Pixel phone, you can try it right now. Remember the development is still an on-going process so be prepared to not expect much stability on the new version. Be warned, not everything is complete and works perfectly.

Google has also worked with many third-party device manufacturers such as Huawei, OnePlus, LG, Xiaomi, Nokia, covering 21 devices in total.

When will it be released in final form?

Google has predicted that it will finish its development for Android Q in the third quarter of 2019, which means that it has some meantime until August. At this point, people who have Google Pixel Phones can update to the latest version, for other Phones, people will have to wait till their manufacturer releases an update for supporting their phones

What will it be called:

Up till now, Google has been using the names of sweets or desserts as the codename for the versions of Android, including KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmello, Nougat, and the recent one being Pie. What will be called for Android Q, quince may be!

How much it will cost?

The update will be free of cost. It is meant to be a free update. People having Google Pixel will update sooner. If someone asks money for the update, it is probably going to be a scam.

We have yet to see how many older devices get the Android Q update.

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Gesture Navigation is Revamped:

Android Pie had introduced new features such as the new pill button, and a new swiping feature that had replaced the traditional back, home, and recently used the app, software keys. This feature was loved by all, and other manufacturers had decided to go their own route.

Android Q Beta 3 takes these features to the next level, they have embraced the back gesture that had been used by Huawei and Honor devices, swipe in from either the right or the left edge of the screen to go back: It works wonderfully.

Android Q also added an Apple-style gesture bar at the bottom of the display screen. Swipe up on it to go back to the home, hold on it to go to the recently used apps, or across it left or right to immediately go to the next or previous app in the recently used app stack.

You can also use the swipe up and over either right or left to immediately switch to the next app, this is a gesture used by OnePlus.

These gestures may change by the time Android Q has finished development, but it has been clear that the navigation buttons are out and the new gestures to control the functions are in.

Smart replies are now available for more apps:

Smart Replies have been available for a very limited number of apps that includes mainly Google Apps for a while that includes Gmail and Message. From Now on using Android Q, the number of apps will include this feature of smart replies straight from the notification shade, using on-device machine learning to predict what do you want to say using one tap feature.

The system will also identify which notifications do you want to answer and which ones can safely be ignored.

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A new Dark Mode:

Night or Dark modes are being used and loved by all. These modes offer to display a black background using white colored text on it. Because this mode consumes less power, it is known to save battery life. While other manufacturers have implemented their own versions, Google has lagged behind. With Android Q, a system-wide dark theme has been implemented, which can be enabled all the time or just at night.

If you like dark colored themes then this is for you. Your phone’s battery may thank you if you’re using an OLED screen, as the pixels that only light up consumes power, while the black color background, turns the pixels off.

Faster Updates While You’re Using Your Phone:

App updates can be annoying, and OS updates can be frustrating even more so. Google’s Project MainLine aims to aid software updates by taking direct responsibility for software updates and backend updates for Android, and delivering them via the Play Store instead of a full system update at it is now. Google says that this will speed up updates from third-party manufacturers and be less disruptive to users as the phone will not be needed to be rebooted to install them.

In the Meantime, the new in-App updates API will, in theory, allow the developers to update their apps while you’re using them, instead of having to quit the app, install the update, and resume where you left off.

Death of Android Beam:

Android Beam which is used to share Files, Photos and other phone data between smartphones is being killed off with Android Q, It’s possible that you may have never used it, but if you placed two phones back to back you can share files without using the Internet.

Improved Privacy:

Google has talked a lot about their privacy of user data at the Google IO. They are committed to making a series of changes to the Android System. To allow users to exhibit greater control on permissions, sensors and other bits.

The first feature to get improved is additional controls for things like location access, Following Apple’s footsteps, Android Q will limit location access to apps that are being used currently, never all the time.

Scoped storage will give controls to apps over which apps can access which files and other sensitive data. Apps shall be blocked for taking over the screen from the background. Sometimes malicious apps to steal your password or data. Access to more sensitive parts of the phone such as device identifiers will be limited too. While you will be able to disable your phone’s sensors if you’re not using them and access more apps in an incognito mode, which includes Google Maps and Browsers.

Finally, Google is taking great strides in making a stronger on-device AI, which includes voice understanding, this removes the need to transmit the voice to Google servers to interpret. This improves privacy and speeds up things tremendously.

Live Captions:

Live captions do what it says, provides in screen captioning capabilities to videos being watched, puts subtitles on audio and videos being watched in real-time. It does so using AI to transcribe the audio or video in real-time without using internet access. It also works with the things you record yourself.

Google designed the feature with the hard of hearing in mind, but given the number of people who watch videos with the sound muted, this feature can prove to be increasingly popular.

Parental Controls:

Google is heavily investing in parental controls on Android using its Family Link feature. This will now be built into the settings App on Android Q. Parents can now set up a new phone or a device for their child,?link it to their account as well as take control over the screen time limits and app installs, track their child’s usage as well as set things such as bedtime when the phone shuts off