Google makes first test version Android 12 available with faster notifications
Google has released a first developer version of Android 12, which can be installed by users of Pixel 3, Pixel 4 and Pixel 5 phones. The first beta should be available in May. With the 12 upgrade, Android has more responsive notifications, among other things.
With the Android 12 upgrade, Google is bringing some of the new features it plans to bring to the full version at a later date. Android 12, for example, should eventually get a new notification design. Developers can see a preview of that in this first version, with changes to the drawer, controls and templates for example. Google wants notifications from different apps to look more alike, in order to ensure uniformity within the operating system.
The notifications should also look smoother through optimized transitions and animations. These notifications should also respond faster when a user clicks on them. Now notifications use a service to launch apps. Google wants when users press a notification, it immediately starts an activity within an app. For example, the notifications should work faster.
The upgrade also introduces a new HEVC transcoder for apps that do not support HEVC. When these apps need to work with hevc files for some reason, Android 12 transcodes the file into an avc file. Google says it takes a Pixel 4 about nine seconds to transcribe a one-minute 1080p-30fps movie. Android 12 also adds support for avif, a container format that delivers better image quality than jpeg without using more storage.
With Android 12, apps can also use a phone’s vibration motor to link haptic feedback to audio. Google mentions examples of custom vibrations that are linked to a custom ringtone, or rough terrain that is simulated with the vibrating motor in a racing game.
To make copying photos, videos and other rich content between apps easier, Google is also introducing a new api with Android 12. This allows apps to receive copied rich content via the clipboard, keyboard or drag and drop. The Immersive API has also been adjusted on Android 12 to make navigating between apps while watching a video or playing games easier.
The update also gets many privacy and security features and other optimizations. Android 12 will be available as a developer version starting Thursday for the Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5. Google expects to reach Platform Stability by August . Sometime after that, the Release Candidate and the full release of Android 12 will follow.