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GRAMGoogle has released its latest big update called Android 11 “R,” which is now rolling out to the company’s Pixel devices and smartphones from a handful of third-party manufacturers.
Announced at the end of February, Android 11 brings with it improved privacy, new chat-related features, and smarter device and media controls, as well as some exclusive Pixel additions.
Here’s what you need to know about updating Android.
When can I get it?
Right now, if you have a Google Pixel smartphone or one of a small selection of third-party devices made by OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, and Xiaomi.
Anyone who owns a smartphone from another manufacturer like Samsung will probably have to wait a couple of months.
How much will it cost?
The update is free from Google and other manufacturers. If you are asked to pay for an upgrade, it is likely a scam.
Will my apps work?
Android 11 hasn’t changed the way the main operating system works, which means that almost all apps should work fine out of the box if they’ve been updated in recent years.
Conversation update
For many, phones are all about messaging through countless different applications. These chat apps have their own dedicated space within the notifications section of your phone, making it easy to view and manage conversations without interfering with the rest of your notifications.
Bubbles, also known as chat heads
Facebook first introduced a feature called Chat Heads for its Messenger app in 2013, which turned conversations into little floating bubbles that were placed above everything else on the screen and could be magnified for reading.
Google has taken that feature and made it a central part of Android so that any messaging app can do the same with a setting called Bubbles. Most chat apps will support the feature, although some will need to be updated to do so.
The idea is that you can keep doing whatever you were doing while having a quick conversation with someone without having to go in and out of different apps.
Updated media controls
Music controls are now part of the main quick controls section of the drop-down notification screen, which sits above the rest of the notifications. Part of the update is the ability to quickly switch the output of your music, so if you’re listening with headphones but want to play a track for a friend, you can simply tap the icon above the play / pause button to switch to speakerphone. .
Much faster access to smart devices
If you have smart lights and other gadgets, this update is for you. A long press on the power button will take you to a quick access panel where you can turn off your phone, restart it, access Google Pay, and see a collection of quick action buttons to turn smart devices on or off.
The buttons can be changed so that you have only the devices you need frequently, like the thermostat or the front door light, making it much quicker than having to open a separate app just to turn off a light.
Better privacy permissions
After the Android 10 location privacy updates, Android 11 adds much greater control over the general permissions it grants to your apps. For example, access to microphone, camera, or location can now be granted one-time, allowing you to use an app without granting you indefinite permission.
Android will also reset the permissions granted to apps that you haven’t used in a long time, notifying you when this happens, which will help avoid the apps you use once and forget about being able to access parts of your phone that you would rather they didn’t. ‘t.
Faster updates
Google continues to push faster updates by making more security and privacy updates available through Google Play in a similar way to apps. This way, you don’t have to wait for your smartphone manufacturer to release a full phone update for a crucial security patch.
Pixel exclusives
In addition to the general Android 11 updates, Google has a selection of new features specifically for its Pixel smartphones, which may reach third-party devices at some point in the future.
Live view Location sharing on Google Maps now allows you to see where your friends are in augmented reality. Just point your phone in their general direction and it will show you where they are with virtual pins using your phone’s camera.
Smart answer has been updated to suggest fully automated responses to messages in chat applications that use machine learning on the device. Soon it will just be their phones talking to each other without the need for human interaction.
The overview menu (recently used apps) can now select text, images, or take screenshots for faster sharing. The bottom row of icons on the home screen can now automatically suggest apps that the phone thinks you’ll want to use based on your previous usage and the time of day.
