Android 11 released: all new features

Google has launched its new Android 11 operating system, incorporating a series of new and powerful functions to its software platform.

The operating system has been in beta for months and has now been released for Google Pixel devices, as well as select smartphones from OnePlux, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Realme.

The highlights of the new platform include dedicated notifications for messaging apps and chat bubbles that are integrated into the user interface.

Android 11 also brings built-in screen recording, allowing you to record activity on your smartphone without the use of a third-party app.

It also includes built-in smart device functionality. A long press of the power button allows you to quickly control any connected smart device without the need to open multiple applications.

The media controls have been redesigned and Android Auto now works wirelessly on all Android 11 phones as long as you have a compatible vehicle.

Google has also improved the privacy and data protection features of Android 11 through the implementation of unique app permissions, update modules, and expiring hardware or file system permissions.

Google said that this update will roll out to more smartphones in the coming months.

We have listed the best new Android 11 features below.

Accessibility

• Voice access – Control your applications by speaking commands out loud. It has offline support.
• Braille talkback keyboard – Native support for writing braille on the software keyboard.
• Be aware – New Lookout modes allow you to easily scan documents and food labels, and opening the app now automatically opens the flashlight.

Camera

• 3P performance optimizations – Better camera functionality on photo sharing platforms like Snapchat.
• Silence during camera capture – New APIs allow camera applications to silence the vibration of ringtones, alarms or notifications.
• Bokeh modes – New API for bokeh support in third party camera applications.
• Camera support in emulator – Now supports a fully functional HAL camera.

Digital well-being

• Bedtime mode – Silence your phone when it’s time to go to sleep, switch to grayscale and mute notifications via Do Not Disturb. It can be programmed to run automatically or when the phone is charged.
• Clock – New bedtime feature lets you keep track of screen time at night and fall asleep with soothing sounds. Sunrise Alarm slowly illuminates the screen to start the day.

Business

• Work profile improvements – Total IT privacy on your smartphone work profile, as well as new asset management features that ensure security while keeping personal use opaque to IT.
• Connected personal and work apps – Provides a combined view of information from both profiles in applications such as Calendar.
• Schedule work profile – Allows you to set a schedule to automatically activate and deactivate your work profile.
• Job tab in more places – Better integration of work tabs allows you to use more applications in work and personal profiles.
• Location access notifications – Receive a notification if your IT administrator has activated location services on your managed device.

Media

• Device controls – Easily manage your connected devices from one place on your phone.
• Media controls – With Android 11, you can quickly change the device your media is playing on.
• Android Auto – Android Auto now works wirelessly with devices running Android 11.
• Context-sensitive Bluetooth airplane mode – If you have headphones or earphones connected to your phone, Bluetooth will stay on if you enable Airplane mode.

Messaging and sharing

• Conversations – View, reply and control your conversations through multiple messaging applications. Choose the priority conversations that will appear on your lock screen.
• Bubbles – Set conversations to always appear on top of other applications and screens.
• Smart answer – On Pixel devices, responses are intelligently suggested based on what was said in conversation.
• Keyboard autocomplete – GBoard provides suggestions to help fill out forms with information such as passwords or a home address.
• Summary Actions – On Pixel devices, you can easily copy, save and share information between many applications.
• Close Share – Send files, videos, map locations and more quickly and safely to nearby devices.

Security and privacy

• Unique permissions – Allows you to grant unique permissions to apps that need your microphone, camera, or location.
• Automatic reset permissions – Android 11 will reset the permissions for your unused apps. You can always turn the permissions back on.
• Google Play system updates – More security and privacy fixes sent to your smartphone from Google Play.
• Scoped storage – Android limits broad access to shared storage for all apps running Android 11.
• Resume on restart – Applications run immediately after installing an update.
• Permissions blocked – If a user denies permissions to an app multiple times, the permission request will be blocked again.
• Soft restart – System updates from Google Play when your phone is idle, eliminating the need for a hard reset.
• Background location – Get more control over location sharing with apps that are not in use.

Usability improvements

• Screen recorder – Screen recording is now built-in, so you don’t need an additional app.
• Application suggestions – Pixel1 devices now make app suggestions based on your daily routines.
• Smart folders – See smart suggestions for folder names on your Pixel device.
• Call filter – New APIs to help detection applications to better identify unwanted calls.
• Schedule dark mode – Schedule when you want your phone to switch to dark mode.
• Picture in Picture – Picture in picture windows can be adjusted to fit the size you need.
• 5G detection API – With the new APIs, applications know if you are on a 5G connection. So you get better performance.
• Hinge Angle Sensor Bracket – Better foldable smartphone app support.
• Ethernet anchor – Share an internet connection tethered with a USB ethernet key.
• Gesture sensitivity – When using gesture navigation, you can now fine-tune both the Back gestures on the left and right edge independently of each other.
• Notification history – Your notification history is now available in settings.
• Sharesheet – Pin the apps you use the most to the shared sheet.

Read Now: Android 11 Beta Release – Here Are The New Features