Last night, Google announced updates on Google Search, Next Generation Assistant, Google Duplex. The company also announced a couple of new hardware devices – Nest Hub Max with a 10-inch display and new Pixel 3a series smartphones. Further, the company also announced Android Q Beta for 21 devices from 12 OEMs. The list of devices that are eligible for Android Q Beta includes:
- Asus Zenfone 5Z
- Essential Phone
- Nokia 8.1
- Huawei Mate 20 Pro
- LG G8
- OnePlus 6T
- Oppo Reno
- Realme 3 Pro
- Sony Xperia XZ3
- Tecno Spark 3 Pro
- Vivo X27
- Vivo NEX S
- Vivo NEX A
- Xiaomi Mi 9
- Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 5G
- Google Pixel
- Google Pixel XL
- Google Pixel 2
- Google Pixel 2 XL
- Google Pixel 3
- Google Pixel 3 XL
Note:
This list is taken from Google’s site and OEMs like OnePlus and Vivo are adding up more devices. We’ll update the complete list once it is official on Google’s blog.
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What’s new in Android Q Beta 3?
Android Q Beta 1 was made available for Pixel smartphones earlier in March, since then, Google has announced 2 Beta updates and now with Android Q Beat available for over 20 smartphones Google has introduced new features from new gesture-based navigation to Dark Theme to streaming media to hearing aids using Bluetooth LE.
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Native support for foldable phone displays and 5G smartphones
Android Q is designed to support the potential of foldable devices—from multi-tasking to adapting to different screen dimensions as you unfold the phone. And as the first operating system to support 5G, Android Q offers app developers tools to build for faster connectivity, enhancing experiences like gaming and augmented reality.
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Live Caption
For 466 million deaf and hard of hearing people around the world, captions are more than a convenience—they make content more accessible. Google worked closely with the Deaf community to develop a feature that would improve access to digital media. With a single tap, Live Caption will automatically caption media that’s playing audio on your phone. Live Caption works with videos, podcasts and audio messages, across any app—even stuff you record yourself. As soon as speech is detected, captions will appear, without ever needing Wifi or cell phone data, and without any audio or captions leaving your phone.
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On-device machine learning for Smart Reply
This feature is now built into the notification system in Android, allowing any messaging app to suggest replies in notifications. Smart Reply will now also intelligently predict your next action—for example, if someone sends you an address, you can just tap to open that address in Maps.
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Security and privacy
Android has the most widely-deployed security and anti-malware service of any operating system today thanks to Google Play Protect, which scans over 50 billion apps every day. With Android Q almost 50 new features and changes are focused on security and privacy. For example, there is a dedicated Privacy section under Settings, where you’ll find important controls in one place. Under Settings, you’ll also find a new Location section that gives you more transparency and granular control over the location data you share with apps. You can now choose to share location data with apps only while they’re in use.
Also, you’ll receive reminders when an app has your location in the background so you can decide whether or not to continue sharing. Android Q also provides protections for other sensitive device information, like serial numbers. With Android Q, Google will update important OS components in the background, similar to the way to apps update.
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Focus mode
Since Digital Wellbeing was introduced last year, it has helped people take better control of phone usage. The app timers helped people stick to their goals over 90 percent of the time, and people who use Wind Down had a 27 percent drop in nightly phone usage. Google has announced a new feature Focus mode, which is designed to help you focus without distraction. You can select the apps you find distracting—such as email or the news—and silence them until you come out of Focus mode. And to help children and families find a better balance with technology, Google is making Family Link part of every device that has Digital Wellbeing (starting with Android Q), plus adding top-requested features like bonus time, which lets your children gives that extra 5 minutes and the ability to set app-specific time limits.
What’s your favorite feature of Android Q? Drop a comment and let us know, for more news and the latest updates follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
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