Mobile

Later this year, Google’s mobile operating system will get a massive visual overhaul and more privacy controls. The months-long process to a consumer release starts today with the Android 12 Developer Preview. This is the sixth year that Google is giving the public an early look at what direction Android is going. Like in 2020, the preview is getting underway in February rather than March to…

In addition to highlighting what’s new, Google today provided a launch schedule for Android 12. There will be eight releases in total before public availability sometime after August. Similar to last year, Google is partitioning the releases. The first three Android 12 builds from February to April are classified as developer previews: Developer Preview 1: Early baseline build focused on…

The first preview of Android 12 is focused on adding underlying system features for developers, but there are a handful of user-facing changes. For example, Android 12 significantly revamps the Markup tool with the ability to add text and emoji to screenshots. The first change to the screenshotting experience sees users no longer be able to tap an “X” to remove the bottom-left corner…

Android 12 Developer Preview 1 arrived today, and in it, we’ve found that the Settings app has gotten a bit of a revamp, complete with a redesigned search bar. While the leaked mockups may have given us dreams of a major UI revamp for Android 12, it seems the reality — at least in what’s available in Developer Preview 1 — is a bit more modest. What we do have today is a revamp of the…