Android

Find the top things you need to know about Android 11

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Google will release the next version of Android this year. For the past couple of years, Google has been consistent in the timeline of new releases. For instance, both Android 9 and Android 10 made the first preview in March, followed by several updates and the final release in August or September. Although Google has not yet said much about the newest version, we are expecting great things.

General Information

As the leading mobile app development company in India, we’ve listed the things you need to know about Android 11 in general

When Will They Release It?

The conventional way Google releases the public and final version of Android is along with a new smartphone and that is towards the end of the year. Android 10 was released on September 3rd, 2019 and we expect the same with Android 11. Google has the habit of releasing a public beta version. Beta releases usually happen during March. Thus we expect the initial beta version of Android 11 soon.

Version Name

Previously Google named each of its versions with a dessert name. They retired this fun aspect in 2019 after naming Android 9 as Android 9 Pie. Going forward, Android will name its versions with numbers and not a letter associated with dessert. As per the previous way, Android 10 will have the letter Q. However, for the reason of the randing change, no dessert has been assigned to it. Therefore we can say that Android 11 will simply have the name as it is.

when can we expect updates on our phones?

The official public release of Android 11 will almost certainly come in September for Google’s Pixel devices. 

If you have a phone from Samsung, LG, Huawei, Nokia, Motorola, or another manufacturer, you will have to wait until the firm releases an updated schedule. This will occur after September, however the dates may vary depending on the manufacturer. While some phones may get the upgrade in 2020, the great majority will have to wait until 2021 for Android 11. 

There is also a chance for some new phones that are released this year from September 2020 to come with Android 11 already. However, More will come in 2021.

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Features Of Android 11

Here we are going to discuss a few things you must know about Android 11 

Chat Bubbles For Messaging App

There were hints of chat bubbles in the developer previews for Android 10, but even after the final release, they were found nowhere. Now while we are waiting for Android 11 we expect the new Bubbles API for notifications. Thereafter any messaging/chat app can use bubbles to keep conversations easy to access.

Separate Message Notifications

This update in Android 11 sticks out since it now reminds you of your discussions separate from other notifications. Previously, you might have missed an important text message exchange owing to a barrage of useless notifications. However, Google now prioritizes them at the top of your notification shade.

Conversations have been placed at the top of the notification screen in a new Conversations section, which includes your SMS app, chat apps like WhatsApp, and direct messages from social media apps. However, you can also prioritize certain discussions.

Making chats a high priority allows notifications to be delivered even if you have muted them. In a way, Android 11's new features make it easier to keep track of important conversations.

Mute Vibrations While Using The Camera 

You may record videos without interruptions using Android 11, You'll never have to deal with an annoying vibration interrupting your video while you're making it. Android 11 includes APIs that mute all vibrations when the camera is opened. 

Scoped Storage

Android 11 has ways to protect your personal information from the access of malicious apps and to reduce unwanted app clutters with the concept of scoped storage. It is a positive change for end-users, yet for developers, it means a lot of extra work to keep the apps working just like normal.

Built-In Screen Recorder

With Android 11's new features, there is no need for third-party apps for screen recordings because they are naturally available with Android 11. Nonetheless, a new function in Android 11 makes recording calls, audio, or videos from your phone as simple as possible. To make the new screen recorder function display in the quick settings panel, you may need to update the settings and move them to the top menu slider.

The built-in screen recorder records everything on your smartphone, including audio from your microphone, device, or both, reducing the need to install a separate program. When you enable record audio for customization, the dropdown menu allows you to choose whether to record from your microphone, your device audio, or both. 

If you want labels to appear anywhere you touch, turn on the ' show touches' option on the screen. A red dot in the status bar at the top of the screen indicates that the recording is in process, and it additionally enables you to stop it at any time.

Smart Home Controls

Given the extensive usage of smart home devices and the need to manage many smart gadgets in our homes, Google has devised a solution in Android 11 that includes new capabilities to facilitate their access. Android 11 uses the unused power menu to provide shortcuts to every smart home device linked to your phone.

Simply long-press the power button to access controls for your smart lights, locks, thermostats, and other smart devices. Thus, you may access multiple controls for all of your smart devices directly from your phone's power button menu.

Recall Cleared Notifications With Notification History

If you've ever cleared a notice and then regretted it because you couldn't recall what it said, Android 11's new notification history will help. It is available in the settings menu and displays all of the alerts you have erased in the last 24 hours. 

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Smart device controls

People are increasingly embracing smart home technology in their daily lives. In response to this rising trend, Google included a section in Android 11 that allows you to effortlessly control your numerous devices without the need to launch an app. 

To launch the tool, hold down the power button. The usual power features are at the top, but there are many more options underneath. There is a Google Pay shortcut that allows you to rapidly select the payment option to utilize for your next contactless transaction. Under that, you'll notice a slew of buttons that correspond to your various smart home devices.

Android 11 will pre-populate this box with six of your devices, but you can add and remove them as you see fit. Whatever gadgets you choose, you may use them to turn lights on and off, monitor security cameras, unlock your front door, and so on. No more having to launch three different apps to accomplish all of these tasks!

Unfortunately, several OEMs did not use this capability. Samsung, for example, left the standard power buttons on this page, without any smart home controls. Other firms moved the controls to different portions of the operating system. Incidentally, Google pretty much abandoned this functionality in Android 12, so enjoy it while you can!

One-time permissions and auto-reset

Android 11 provided users with more control over their privacy and security than ever before.

The standout aspect of this program was one-time permissions. When you initially install an app, Android 10 asks if you want to allow it permissions all the time, only when you use it, or never. This was a significant step forward, but Android 11 provided even more control by allowing users to grant rights exclusively for a certain session.

If a user grants permission for a session, Android will revoke it once the app is closed. If a user wishes to grant permission every time they use the app, they can do so, although not all apps will have this option. This will make things considerably safer for consumers while also making it much more difficult for sly apps to grab information you may not want them to. Similarly, Android 11 will "auto-reset" apps that you haven't used in a while. If you offer location data permissions to an app that you haven't used in a long time, Android will withdraw all permissions. When you start the app again, you will be prompted to approve those permissions. However, if you never launch the app, your data is protected.

Dark theme scheduling

It was pretty thrilling when Google finally included a native dark mode in Android 10. However, it was quite simple: it was either on or off. Meanwhile, Android skins from other manufacturers provide consumers choice over when and why dark mode is enabled.

With Android 11, users may now schedule the dark theme using one of two criteria. You may create a dark theme to switch on and off when the sun sets or rises. You might also create a custom schedule for dark mode activation if you choose.

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Media controls

When you play music on your Android 10 phone, a music player displays at the top of your notification drawer. Of course, with Android 11, that part of the drawer is now allocated for conversations, thus the media player has to relocate. Google opted to move it up one rung to the Quick Settings menu.

This makes a lot more sense because the media controller is more of a utility or mini-app than a notification.

Whenever you swipe downwards your notification drawer, the media controller will appear small. It will display the app's name, cover art, basic controls, and the system on which the media is being played. If you pull down the drawer again, the warning expands to provide the information seen in the image above.

In a great touch, you may tap on the playback system ("Phone speaker" in the image above) to rapidly send music or video to another system. This makes it exceedingly simple to switch between your phone speaker to your Bluetooth headphones, for example.

Do you no longer want the player up there? You can swipe it away as you used to. You may also change the settings on Android 11 so that the player disappears when you finish listening to music (or stays there all the time, depending on your preferences!).

App-pinning to the share sheet

At one time, even one of Android's senior executives recognized that the company's sharing system was a shambles. Fortunately, it has improved significantly over the last few years and is now more helpful than ever, beginning with Android 11.

You can now pin applications to your share sheet so you can quickly access them whenever you want to share something. The image above shows the option to pin Chrome's printing feature to the share sheet, as well as Chrome's ability to transfer URLs to other devices.

This feature allows you, as the user, to choose which applications appear at the top of the list when you share something. Android's prior technique of showing apps in a predetermined sequence was confusing and frustrated power users, so this is a great change!

Wireless Android Auto

Android Auto is an extremely handy system, but it requires your phone to be plugged in. Some phones can interact wirelessly with Android Auto, but not everyone has one of those phones or a vehicle that supports that technology. 

Fortunately, beginning with Android 11, all Android smartphones can make use of wireless Android Auto connections. The only limitation is that your car's head unit must support the feature. Obviously, this will continue to be a significant limitation for people who buy cars that are a few years old, but it will mark the beginning of the shift to a completely wireless Android Auto experience. 

Closing end

We won’t know much about Android 11 until the first beta version is released to the public. The developers and Android fans will get the chance to explore and dig into the code only after we get it. Even then, the main new features won’t be revealed until Google I/O in May. Have your dream app in mind let us know your requirements. You will receive the best mobile app in the market from the top mobile app development company in Kerala.