Tag: android
How to install Android 13 on your Pixel phone
What is Private DNS Mode on Android and how do you enable it?
You can’t revert from Android 13 to Android 12 on Pixel 6 devices
Android 13 is now rolling out to Google’s Pixel phones, but if you want to flash the update onto your Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, or Pixel 6A, with the company’s custom Tensor chip, you won’t be able to flash back to Android 12 because of a bootloader update, according to a notice on Google’s developer website.
“Warning: The Android 13 update for Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and the Pixel 6a contains a bootloader update that increments the anti-roll back version,” the notice reads. “After flashing an Android 13 build on these devices you will not be able to flash older Android 12 builds.”
Additionally, if you’ve been in the Android 13 beta test group and you’d like to get out of the cycle of accelerated updates without erasing your device — usually…
Google Pixel owners can download Android 13 starting now
Get ready to go outside and enjoy some fresh air while your phone updates, Google Pixel owners.
In a blog post on Monday, Google announced that Android 13 would officially begin rolling out to Pixel devices. Other Android device manufacturers like Samsung, Motorola, and OnePlus will all get the Android 13 update sometime later this year, but folks who own Google’s proprietary smartphones can get in on the action early.
There aren’t any big surprises about what is included with Android 13, as Google already pulled the curtain off the mostly incremental update at I/O earlier this year. The “Material You” design language has been upgraded so any color themes you choose for the phone will also apply to app icons, while multilingual users can select different default languages for different apps instead of relying on one uniform language across the whole phone.
There are also privacy upgrades, like the clipboard automatically clearing out copied personal info after a period of time and the ability to give apps access to specific photos and videos, rather than the whole library. On the whole, though, Pixel users probably won’t notice any huge differences on day one.
Still, even incremental upgrades are still upgrades. That language feature seems like a real standout if you speak (or are trying to learn how to speak) multiple languages. But really, the best thing about this rollout is that Pixel owners get to temporarily feel superior to their other Android-using comrades.
Android 13 is rolling out to Pixel phones today
Android 13 is coming out of beta and will start rolling out to Pixels today, with devices from Samsung, ASUS, Nokia (HMD), Motorola, OnePlus, Oppo, Sony, Xiaomi and more expected to get the update later this year. The latest version of Google’s mobile operating system brings more granular privacy controls, a new photo picker, Bluetooth LE audio and more. Those who want even more personalization from the company’s Material You theme generator may appreciate the additional customized app icons.
One of the more intriguing updates is messaging app streaming, which will let you cast your messaging apps to your Chromebook so you can chat with your friends on your laptop. Google said this works with Messages “and many of your other favorite messaging apps.” Inter-device copy and paste will be getting easier too, with the company saying you’ll “soon be able to copy content — like a URL, picture, text or video — from your Android phone and paste it on your tablet” or the other way around.
There are plenty of small touches that make Android 13 feel refreshed, like an animated progress bar in the updated media playback box on the lock screen, as well as a QR code scanner shortcut. Many other improvements are coming to the L version of Android, which is designed to make navigating larger screened devices more intuitive.
You’ll also find HDR video capability on third-party camera apps, support for braille displays for Google’s screen reader Talkback and an update media output switcher. The company lists more details on what’s changed on its website so you can check them out there.
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7 Gboard settings that’ll supercharge your Android typing
If there’s one place where saved seconds can seriously add up, it’s in your smartphone’s on-screen keyboard.
This doesn’t get nearly enough attention among average tech-totin’ animals, but Android has an awesome advantage over that (cough, cough) other mobile platform when it comes to text input. All it takes is two minutes of trying to type text on an iDevice to see just how much of a good thing we’ve got goin’ (and to make yourself want to gouge your eyes out with the nearest overpriced Apple accessory).
And you know what? While we’ve got no shortage of commendable Android keyboard apps to choose from, Google’s own Gboard keyboard really is the perfect example of how simple, effective, and expandable the Android typing experience can be. Gboard works well right out of the virtual box, and once you start poking around in the mustiest corners of its settings, you’ll uncover some tucked-away treasures that can inject all sorts of seconds-saving sorcery into your Android input process.