Tag: android 12

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Mobile Syrup

Android 12 custom ROM can bring new life into your old Google Pixel 2 XL

Google’s Pixel 2 XL can now use Android 12 thanks to a custom ROM that includes new features such as ‘Material You,’ the redesigned Quick Settings panel and more updates.

Google officially ended its support of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL in December 2020. For 11 or so odd months, those devices no longer received updates or security patches. However, if you’re a little technically inclined, you can now dust off the Pixel 2 XL and give Android 12 a whirl.

ProtonAOSP offers Pixel 2 XL users a way to try Android 12 on their hardware. Rather than installing a GSI build of the software, ProtonAOSP provides a more streamlined and accessible method.

To install the ProtonAOSP Android 12 ROM, users will be required to unlock the bootloader on the device. Following that, the bundled flash-all script will be required to have been used in order to install the ROM correctly. If the installation fails, allocating more storage may solve the issue.

Due to the ProtonAOSP Android 12 ROM not being officially supported by Google, bugs and performance issues can be expected. On the more serious side, users can run into issues with functional Wi-Fi service on their device or Premissive SELinux permission. Other issues are likely to exist. However, none have been reported as of the time of writing.

For users who enjoy holding on to their devices but don’t want to feel left behind when it comes to software, this Android 12 ROM should speak to Pixel 2 XL owners. It may be slightly obtuse to get working. Though, it’s a solution that wasn’t exactly expected following Google’s decision to stop supporting the Pixel 2 family.

As of now, ProtonAOSP’s ROM is only available for the Pixel 2 XL. However, a build for the standard Google Pixel 2 is said to be in the works. No release window has been given for that, however.

Source: AndroidPolice

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Mobile Syrup

Google reportedly re-sent Verizon-specific Android 12 update to most Pixels

If you see a new update on your Pixel today, you probably shouldn’t download it.

It appears Google may have re-issued the Android 12 update to older Pixel phones — so far, everything from the Pixel 3a to the 5 (or 5a if you live in a market where that phone is available) appears to be affected. The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, however, don’t seem to be. Worse, it looks like Google issued the U.S.-based carrier Verizon’s specific Android 12 updates to non-Verizon Pixel phones.

According to reports from 9to5Google and Android Authority, some users who have updated their Pixels with this new update now have build numbers matching the Verizon Android 12 update. Further, others examined the MD5 checksum (a string of numbers used to uniquely identify a file) and found it matches the Verizon update.

The main difference between the Verizon and non-Verizon variants likely comes down to radio bands. Android Authority notes that Verizon offers mmWave 5G on devices with hardware to support it. The U.S. carrier also uses a CDMA-based network while many other places use GSM. While installing the update may not break anything, it’s also probably better not to risk it.

Besides, the whole update totals over 1.5GB, which can be pretty large (especially if you pay by the gig for your internet).

It’s not clear how widespread the problem is, but some U.K. Pixel owners report receiving the update. Ultimately, if you have a Pixel and you get a prompt for a large Android 12 update, you probably shouldn’t install it.

Source: 9to5Google, Android Authority

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Mobile Syrup

Pixel owners with Android 12 beta not receiving November security patch

This year the Android 12 beta program has been a little different than it has in the past, and that seems to be blocking some Pixel users from downloading the latest November security patch.

Google is allowing beta testers to stay in the program as it redies the Android 12L beta. Usually, after the full build of Android goes live, Google automatically transitions users out of the beta and onto the stable build channel. This year that didn’t happen and now some users are reporting that they’re unable to get the November security patch.

To get around this, you can manually unroll your phone from the beta program without losing your data. You can do this by opening up the Android beta devices site and clicking on ‘Opt out’ to leave the beta. 9to5Google says that users can do this without losing their data until December 1st.

Once you do that, you should be able to go into your phone settings and trigger the November security update. MobileSyrup staff reporter Jon Lamont tested this out on a Pixel 4a 5G and was able to get the security patch within a few minutes of opting that device out of the beta.

Source: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Android 12’s November security update is rolling out to Pixel devices

Android 12’s November security patch is now available for Pixel devices.

In Google’s new Android Security & Privacy Year in Review, the company noted that there are “no critical security vulnerabilities affecting the Android platform were publicly disclosed without a security update or mitigation available for Android devices.”

The update is available for the Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones.

You can check out the November 2021 Android Security Bulletin, here.

As always, the update is available over-the-air or via factory image.

Source: Android 12

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Mobile Syrup

New Assistant feature to let users skip ‘Hey Google’ with certain commands

A useful new feature that lets users interact with the Assistant without saying the phrase “Hey Google” seems to be making its way to Google Assistant on devices running the Android 12 beta.

According to XDA Developers, the feature is available on Pixel devices running the Android 12 beta. When this new form of interaction rolls out to everyone, users will be able to answer or decline a phone call by saying “answer” or “decline,” and “stop” or “snooze” when an alarm or timer goes off.

It’s worth noting that you can already say “stop” to halt an alarm with Nest smart speakers.

After you enable these quick phrases, you’ll see a message below the phone call or alarm notifications to remind you that you don’t need to say “Hey Google.”

To check if you have this feature, head to Assistant Settings > Quick phrases, and from there, you can enable the settings. Quick Phrases might also include tasks like “What’s the weather?,” “Turn up volume,” “Skip this song,” “Create reminder,” and more, but these weren’t spotted in the most recent Google App version, ‘12.39.17.29.’

While I don’t yet have Quick Phrases on my Pixel 5 running the beta, I hope it arrives soon.

Source: XDA Developers

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Mobile Syrup

OnePlus gears up for Android 12-based OxygenOS 12 with new beta

After Google released the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) version of Android 12, OnePlus also dropped a blog post outlining some of the new features users can expect with the latest update.

This includes a revamped notes app, several new design tweaks, improvements to system search and a new work/life balance feature that’s similar to the iOS 15’s Focus mode.

At first glance, this seems to be an above-average OnePlus update. Still, the blog post doesn’t mention if OnePlus is adopting Google’s Material You design principles, which is a shame considering how great it is with Google’s Pixel. That gripe aside, it makes sense that OnePlus might be behind on adopting the new guidelines since it revamped its visual identity quite heavily last year.

New design, sort of

 

The company says that it’s using a new design that plays with light and shadows to create space in its apps, and it uses the recently updated Zen Mode app as an example of this. To me, this is a bit of a step backwards in design, especially since the company pushed into new space with the quite pleasing and flat OxygenOS 11 update. Only time will tell if OnePlus can pull off the new aesthetic without looking too much like the old skeuomorphic iOS apps.

In my time with it so ar the update feels like a different device. It’s not that much different but it’s noticeable and doesn’t exactly feel like OnePlus anymore. Things like notifications seem improved, but there are fewer colour customizations now and a new font that makes the phone feel a little less OnePlus than it did before.

Even when you choose the home screen launcher for the phone now you’re choosing between Oppo’s Color OS and any other launchers you might have installed on the phone. It appears that the shift to Android 12, was a very clear shift off OxygenOS as we knew it before.

The company will also start using a new set of icons and symbols throughout its operating system with bolder looks that OnePlus says should be more universally recognized worldwide. The company also added shadows and lighting effects to some of its app icons. This change is relatively subtle but shows how the company plans to add depth with shadows throughout the OS.

New system search

The most exciting change for me is the launch of OnePlus Scout in global markets. This is OnePlus’ system search feature that’s advanced enough to search for files and the web. It’s been available in India for a while now, so it’s exciting to see OnePlus bring it to the rest of the world.

The updated system search functionality on Android 12 is a lot better in general. It’s unclear if OnePlus is rebranding the feature or if it’s actually using its own software.

Work/life balance

This is another feature that has been available in India but is finally going global with OxygenOS 12. This feature allows users to set two notification profiles on their phones so they won’t be bothered by work notifications after work or play notifications during the workday.

This mode can even be set up so that it switches based on where you are.

Release date

OnePlus isn’t sharing much about the release date for this software update other than the fact that it’s coming to the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro today. You can download the update now, but be warned — there are often lots of bugs in OnePlus software updates.

OnePlus says that it will come to devices as old as the OnePlus 7T at a later date. OnePlus has been promising faster updates now that it’s fully incorporated within Oppo, but only time will tell if it will be able to follow through on this promise.

Source: OnePlus 

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Mobile Syrup

Here are all the apps with ‘Material You’ design so far

Google seems to be on the verge of releasing Android 12 with its new colour-shifting design.

To help prepare for the launch, we rounded up all of the apps with Material You updates or widgets so far. We should note that these updates are predominantly on Pixel phones, but I’ve noticed a few updates on my OnePlus 9 Pro.

I’ll make sure to mention which apps have rolled out to us so far, and will update the list as more apps roll out to myself and other MobileSyrup staffers. The last time Google did a significant design change, it took a while for all apps to update to support it. Leading into Android 12, it looks like the tech giant is better prepared, but I’d still expect a bit of a delay for all of the apps to catch up with the colour-changing look once the full release of Android 12 drops this fall.

I used a Pixel 4a 5G for most of my testing — it’s running the latest Android 12 beta.

Gboard

Android 11 (Pixel 3 XL) on left – Android 12 (Pixel 4a 5G) on right

Of course, the first app that got updated was the Google keyboard app, Gboard. The app is functionally the same as it was in Android 11, but the buttons are a little more rounded, and it adopts an accent colour based on your wallpaper. I have this app on my Pixel 4a 5G.

Phone

Android 11 (Pixel 3 XL) on left – Android 12 (Pixel 4a 5G) on right

The Phone app has been updated, and the floating action buttons (FAB) are square this time around. They also adopt an accent colour from your phone. This update is live on my OnePlus 9 Pro, but the colours don’t change. Even some of the animations, like the empty voicemail screen, take on your accent colour, and it looks really great on the Pixel 4a 5G.

Calculator

Android 11 (Pixel 3 XL) on left – Android 12 (Pixel 4a 5G) on right

The calculator is also updated, and it looks awesome with a new round button design and bright ever-changing colours. This app is on my Pixel 4a 5G.

Camera

Android 11 (Pixel 3 XL) on left – Android 12 (Pixel 4a 5G) on right

The camera app has been updated slightly to take on the accent colours from your wallpaper. I have this update on my Pixel 4a 5G.

Gmail

Android 11 (Pixel 3 XL) on left – Android 12 (Pixel 4a 5G) on right

The Gmail update, like a lot of these redesigns, is quite subtle. The background colour doesn’t change, but the accent colours do, and the FAB is square this time around to match the other apps. This update is already live on my Pixel 4a 5G and my OnePlus 9 Pro. On the OnePlus (Android 11), the accent colour is locked to blue.

Google

This app gets a little more colour, and the background changes slightly to match your colour scheme, but it’s not overly noticeable. This update hasn’t rolled out to me yet.

Keep Notes

The Keep update is similar to the Google one, with a subtle background colour and brighter accent colours. The one change worth mentioning is that the colourful notes look a little muted compared to how saturated they were before. I think it’s an improvement, as it matches the muted accent colours better. This update hasn’t rolled out to us yet.

Google Meet

Google Meet doesn’t have a lot going on, other than some subtle changes to accent colours. I don’t have this update yet.

Drive

Google Drive has gotten a little more of an update with a slightly reworked bottom bar that now hosts a square action button. All the accent colours also match your wallpaper. This app hasn’t rolled out to us yet.

Docs

Within Docs, the accent colours and toolbars are also taken over by the prominent background colour. Don’t worry though, the workspace areas still have white or black backgrounds. This update is the same across the Google Work suite, so mobile Sheets and Slide users can expect the same changes. I don’t have this update yet.

Calendar

Google Cal users will get an update too, but it won’t look that different since all the existing calendar accent colours will still be there.

Clock

The Clock app has been updated, and it looks pretty sharp. That being said, it’s got a huge ‘Plus’ button at the bottom of the screen. At first I found it a little weird, but it’s since grown on me and makes a lot of sense in the ‘Stopwatch’ section of the app. This update has rolled out to me.

Files

Android 11 (Pixel 3 XL) on left – Android 12 (Pixel 4a 5G) on right

The Files app takes on some colour across the bottom bar and in other accent places. However, it has this strange design feature where the top bar is white until you scroll down, and then it takes on an accent colour. This colour doesn’t extend to the notification bar at the top of the screen, so for me, it looks like a weird red bar. This update has rolled out to me.

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Mobile Syrup

Samsung Galaxy S21 users can sign up for Android 12 beta in U.S.

Samsung has officially announced that it’s rolling out the public beta of Android 12 with One UI 4.0 for Galaxy S21 handsets. This is only a few weeks before the expected final release of the operating system for Google’s Pixel smartphones.

The registration process starts today, September 14th. Users need to register via the Samsung Members app, and there are likely only a certain number of open slots. Currently, the beta is only available in U.S. and likely won’t come to Canada until the official release.

While One UI 4.0 runs on top of Android 12, at least at the outset, Samsung’s UI seems to be a lot cleaner and more elegant than ‘Material You.’

Samsung says One UI 4.0 features deep customization, ranging from visibility to appearance. Additionally, One UI 4.0 will also bring more enhanced privacy and protection functions, including indicator alerts when an app’s camera or microphone is in use.

Source: Samsung

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Mobile Syrup

Google Assistant Driving Mode may finally come to fruition in Android 12

After years of teases and a boring twist that turned it into a Google Maps feature, Google Assistant’s ‘Driving Mode’ might finally start to look like Google promised it would all the way back in 2019.

Since Google first announced it as a replacement for the on-phone version of Android Auto, the company has slowly released more multi-tasking within Google Maps — at least until now. With Android 12, you can say “Driving mode,” and your phone will shift into a simplified layout that’s more suited to driving.

That said, this worked for me the first two times I tried it, and then after that, it just kicked me to the Google Maps Driving Mode every other time. Also, whenever I tried to navigate somewhere in the app, it pushed me to Google Maps.

At the top, there’s either a search bar for you to use to set a nav point or a suggested route. Below, there are several music/podcast recommendations and buttons to send a message or call.

There’s a slimmed-down app drawer at the very bottom of the screen and a button to trigger Google Assistant.

Overall, it looks a lot cleaner than either Android Auto or the Assistant mode in Google Maps. It’s also worth noting that there’s a ‘Now Playing’ section that allows you to control the playback or shuffle your songs when you’re playing music.

If Google implemented buttons for some quick locations at that top of the screen, this would be a perfect Android Auto replacement for many people since, at its core, it needs to be good at navigating people to places. However, as of right now, it doesn’t adopt your device theme like other new Android ‘Material You’ elements.

Source: Droidlife

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Mobile Syrup

Android 12 is expected to launch on October 4th

The editor-in-chief of XDA Developers, Mishall Rahman, seems to have uncovered Android 12’s release date — at least as far as Pixel devices are concerned.

Rahman discovered that Android U will launch for the Android Open Souce Project (AOSP) on October 4th, 2021. And, if history is set to repeat itself, the official version of Android 12 for Pixel phones should drop as well.

While this date represents when the update will hit Pixel devices, it’s unclear when it will make its way to other manufacturers’ devices like OnePlus and Samsung.

During the Android 11 release cycle, the full and ASOP versions were both released on the same day. This is by no means an indication that the October 4th release date is 100 percent real, but we think there’s a very high probability that it’s correct.

Rahman says that three other people have also mentioned the 4th as the release date. We’re also expecting the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro to release in October, so this time frame matches that window.

This date also lines up with the fact that we got another Android 12 beta update earlier this month.

If you’re unfamiliar, Android 12 will bring a brand new look to Pixel smartphones and likely several other alterations. The update also brings Google’s Material Design update to the next level with ‘Material You,’ a new set of colour-changing guidelines that adapt to your home screen wallpaper’s colour.

Source: @MishallRahman