Android gets ‘focus mode’ and updates that don’t require a reboot

In the new version Q, Android will have a ‘focus mode’ that should prevent distraction by letting users select apps that are temporarily unavailable. Also, security updates will no longer require the device to be rebooted.

The focus mode, which will also appear in Android Pie this fall, lets users select apps that they see as distractions, after which those apps are not available in that mode. As a result, users need to get things done on their phone without distraction.

It’s not the only change to Digital Wellbeing, Google says. The new version also allows parents to set app timers for children and enter a bedtime in advance. In addition, there is a reward function in the form of ‘bonus time’. The new version will have support for Smart Reply in all apps, rather than just supported apps.

In terms of interface, Google confirmed the arrival of a dark mode and a new way of gesture control. Android Q gets support for App Continuity, a feature that Samsung already showed with the Galaxy Fold. In addition, an app or game can continue directly on a larger or smaller screen without interruption. Android Q will also receive support for 5G. The new version of the operating system also gets Live Caption, a feature to caption videos using a neural network on the device. That takes up 80MB. According to Google, the software does not upload the audio.

Android Q will be Android 10, Google said. Google released the first test version for Android Q in mid-March. The third beta will be released for many more devices. Smartphones from HMD, OnePlus, Xiaomi, LG, Huawei, Oppo and Asus are included in the beta program. All major Android manufacturers support the beta program, except market leader Samsung.