Android Q beta officially out for Pixel phones: let’s take a closer at some of its top features

tenth iteration/version of Google’s popular Android operating system is officially out today – it is called Android Q and even though we do t kw what ‘Q’ stands for just yet, you can w download and start using it on compatible devices. Provided you’re a developer, or someone who likes to live ir life on edge. This is because Android Q is currently in beta, and refore, it isn’t meant for everybody in its current raw st of development – you’ll have to wait until May to hear more about it and until August to use a stable release.  

As has always been case with first beta/preview release,  Android Q beta 1 is exclusive to Google’s Pixel phones – Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. A wider beta rollout (for general public) is expected in May post Google I/O 2019 when software will be also available on third-party phones.  

Android Q will t be a substantial upgrade over Android P as far as visuals are concerned – and even though Google will continue to add more features all along until final rollout, what we’re seeing w is what it’s going to look like eventually. Android Q update instead will focus on under hood changes. From enhanced privacy controls to a more seamless sharing process, from more audio and video codecs to enhanced Vulcan APIs – t to mention Android Q will offer faster app launches than Android P. Google is also opening Android to embrace a new category of devices, aka foldables, with Android Q. Let’s take a closer look at some of Android Q’s (beta) top features: 

• Location sharing: Google is offering more granular control to users when it comes to location sharing with apps with Android Q. Android Q will offer as many as three levels of permissions – share location only when a given app is in use, or all time (even when app is running in background), or don’t share location at all (at all times). 
• High-priority tifications: Apps running in background can’t “unexpectedly jump into foreground and takes over focus” in Android Q, unless specified through a high-priority tification seemingly well in advance – what this means is that apps running in background can’t just randomly pop up full-screen while you’re on a different app.
• Sharing shortcuts: Google is working to make sharing content (within apps) faster and easier – in just a few steps in Android Q. Google is taking a leaf from app shortcuts feature it introduced in Android P for sharing shortcuts to “let users jump directly into ar app to share content.” 
• Settings panels: Taking a leaf from slices feature it introduced in Android P, Google is also offering key system settings directly in a given app (that you might be using) so users can man se settings directly without having to leave app. “For example, a browser could display a panel with connectivity settings like Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi (including nearby networks), and Mobile Data.”
• Wi-Fi performance mode: Google is adding high performance and low latency modes for Wi-Fi to Android Q so users can easily switch to a desired mode depending on situation and us – users can switch to low latency mode during active voice calls or real-time gaming for instance. In addition, Google is also adding “new Wi-Fi standard support, WPA3 and Enhanced Open, to improve security for home and work networks as well as open/public networks.”   
• Dynamic depth mapping: More specialized background blurs/bokeh will be coming to apps running on Android Q-based devices – possibly making portrait mode all more useful (and better) in all kinds of devices.
• New video and audio codecs: Android Q will support  AV1 video codec allowing for high-quality streaming even under shoddy internet connectivity. Android Q will also pack support for  Opus audio codec and HDR10+ (on compatible devices).  
• Vulcan is general standard for games in Android Q: To ensure visual/graphical consistency in games, Google is working with OEMs to make “Vulkan 1.1 a requirement on all 64-bit devices running Android Q and higher, and a recommendation for all 32-bit devices.” 
• System-wide dark mode: Yes, a system-wide dark mode finally comes to Android through Android Q. As name suggests, dark mode (which is ultimately designed to save battery life), turns whole system UI ( settings menu, tification menu and in-house apps) stark black – which should particularly stand out among growing crop of OLED devices.
• Screen recording: iPhone has had screen recording for some time, but it is coming to Android w – well, better late than never.
• Support for foldable phones: Foldable phones are all r se days and with legacy brands like Samsung and Huawei investing (and Apple said to be secretly working on) in m, it won’t be long before y become new rm in days to come. Software will be key to ir success. Gauging interest early, Google is working to make Android work well on foldable devices and Android Q is its first step in that direction.