The one-dozenth version of Android has been something of an odd duck. The latest version of Google’s mobile operating system was announced in February, and a beta version is already available to developers. But up to now, we’ve known little about how the final version of Android 12 will look. Fittingly, the new version looks to be delivering one of the most significant design updates in recent memory. The news arrives as Google announces more than 3 billion Android devices currently in use.
The company unveiled Material You, a new cross-platform adaptable UI designed to give users more control over how their operating systems work. The feature will arrive first on Pixel phones this fall and will roll out to additional devices from there. That means the content can be tailored to different design languages on the phones.
Per Google:
The Quick Settings space doesn’t just look and feel different. It’s been rebuilt to include Google Pay and Home Controls while still allowing for customization to have everything you need most in one easy-to-access place. The notification shade is more intuitive and playful, with a crisp, at-a-glance view of your app notifications, whatever you’re currently listening to or watching, and Quick Settings that let you control practically the entire operating system with a swipe and a tap.
Android 12 will be the first to get the redesigned UI, widgets, and other design elements. The company calls it “the biggest design change to Android in years.” The updates include across-the-board refreshes to things, including the lock screen and wallpaper, which use various algorithms to offer an ever-adapting color palette. The operative word here seems to be “dynamic,” as different elements and widgets adapt to things like the time of day.
Along with the ever-changing design, Google is also touting adapting security features with this latest update. The list includes new indicators for access to the microphone and camera — permissions that can be revoked directly from the operating system’s dashboard. Meanwhile, the Private Computer Core offers access to things like Smart Reply based on the user’s settings. That information is isolated from the network, while the computing happens directly on the device.
Android handsets will also work more closely with Chrome OS going forward, including the ability to use the mobile device to log directly into a Chromebook and cross-platform notifications. On the dev side, the company says it has improved its performance. “We reduced the CPU time needed for core system services by 22% so that devices will be faster and more responsive,” Google writes on its developer blog.
“We also improved Android’s power efficiency by reducing the use of big cores by the system server by 15% to help devices run longer before needing to charge.” Transition and app startup times have been improved here, as well. The new beta is available starting today. Google promises more updates shortly to what appears to be the most significant update to the mobile operating system in recent memory. The final version is set to arrive in the fall.
