Tag: Android 13

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Android 13 feature may let users connect to two carriers from one eSIM

Android 13 may add a new feature to embeddable SIM (eSIM) cards that would add another reason to use them over regular physical SIM cards: multiple profiles.

The new feature was uncovered by Esper’s Mishaal Rahman (via Android Police) and would effectively allow users to have multiple active SIM profiles on one eSIM. Called ‘Multiple Enabled Profiles’ (MEP), it’d fix one of the few remaining issues with eSIMs.

eSIM, for those unfamiliar with the tech, is a tiny SIM card built directly into a smartphone. Most modern smartphones have one (it’s very common now for smartphones to offer an eSIM and a physical SIM slot), although carrier support is often a mixed bag.

People with eSIM smartphones can usually activate and de-activate right from an app on their phone and through scanning QR codes, no need to contact carriers or fiddle with removing a SIM tray and adding a physical SIM card.

Currently, however, eSIMs only support one active carrier at a time. Customers can connect multiple profiles to an eSIM, but need to swap between them to switch which is active. Because of this, people who rely on dual SIM cards haven’t really adopted eSIM outside of using in along with a physical SIM card.

Using one physical SIM and one eSIM in Android 12

It’s worth noting that many phones that offer eSIM and physical SIM slots can operate two profiles at once, similar to phones with dual physical SIM slots. However, Android 13’s MEP feature uses software to run multiple simultaneous SIMs on one eSIM module, removing the need for physical SIM cards or dual-SIM set-ups.

Rahman also noted that some Android 13 APIs for MEP are present in the current developer preview, and it’s likely that Android 13 will launch with support for MEP.

Overall, it’s great news and should be another step forward in ending physical SIMs. Unfortunately, as long as carriers continue to resist the transition, eSIM likely won’t see wide adoption. Several Canadian carriers technically support eSIM, but I have yet to see any actively promote the use of eSIM over a physical SIM, or even give me the choice to use eSIM when signing up for a plan. To be fair, my current carrier (Bell) does give me the option to switch from my physical SIM to eSIM in the self-serve portal, and it appears other carriers do as well, but I had to do a bit of searching to even find the option.

Still, with eSIM being a great way for customers to quickly and easily switch providers and opening up easy access to running dual SIMs (particularly helpful for grabbing temporary plans instead of paying exorbitant roaming fees when travelling), I can see why there’s carrier hesitancy.

Source: Esper Via: Android Police

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Mobile Syrup

Android 13 Developer Preview 2 is now available

Last month, Google unveiled the Android 13 Developer Preview 1, but it’s now time for the company to reveal the Android 13 Developer Preview 2. This preview isn’t like the public beta that’s available for everyone — instead, it’s aimed at developers and some enthusiasts.

If you’re not a developer, you’ll only have to wait until next month for the public beta of Android 13.

Here’s a list of some of the new features included in the update:

  • Android 13 now features new runtime permissions for sending notifications from an app. Meaning, apps targeting Android 13 will need to request permission before sending push notifications.
  • Developer downgradable permissions: Android 13 provides new API to let your app protect user privacy by downgrading previously granted runtime permissions.
  • Improved Japanese text wrapping
  • Improved line heights for non-Latin scripts
  • There’s an improved text conversion API for people who speak languages like Chinese or Japanese
  • Android 13 is adding support for Bluetooth LE Audio
  • MIDI 2.0 standard support

There are more details on each of these above features on the Android Developer’s blog.

Google plans to launch several Android 13 releases in the coming months before the official version hits its Pixel smartphones and other manufacturers’ devices in the latter half of the year. For those Pixel enthusiasts with either a Pixel 4 (XL), Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 5a (U.S. only), Pixel 6, or Pixel 6 Pro, 9to5Google has released a step-by-step guide on how to install the preview.

Source: Android Developers Blog 

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Android 13 lets users stream your Pixel’s phone screen and apps

Last week Google released the Android 13 Developer Preview 1, and with it came a variety of features for developers to play with. One of which seems to let users stream apps to Chromebooks, Windows and Mac computers.

In Android 13 Developer Preview 1, developers have uncovered two new “Cross Device” service apps that make it possible to stream from a Pixel smartphone to Chromebooks and Windows 11 devices.

According to 9to5Google, the feature seems to work better on Windows and Mac than on Chrome OS’. With the web app, users can stream the app their currently using as a virtual second screen for their phone. Then the app then works with the user’s keyboard and mouse.

Alongside showing what’s on the phone’s display, the web app also sports a sidebar on the right that dispalys the notifications. Beside the sidebar are buttons for sending feedback, exiting opened apps, navigating back, and rotating the virtual display. Additionally, 9to5 indicates that you’ll be able to change the screen size, allowing users to emulate a tablet’s display depending on whether the app you’re using features a different layout for smartphones and tablets.

There’s also a shortcut in the bottom left corner that opens up a basic app launcher, which can open any app on the user’s phone.

 

There’s an integrated app on Chrome OS that replaces the web app you’d find on Windows or Mac. The integrated app is located in the Phone Hub in the bottom right corner and shows the most recently used apps.

Weirdly enough, there’s no access to an app launcher like in the Web or Mac version, and there’s also no way to change the device’s orientation.

It’s likely we’ll learn more about this feature when Android 13 officially launches or during Google’s I/O May developer conference.

Image Credit: 9to5Google

Source: 9to5Google

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Android 13 Developer Preview 1 can auto clear your clipboard after one hour

Google recently launched the Android 13 Developer Preview 1, showing off several new features for developers to try out in the updated operating system.

Android 13 is introducing a function that can clear your clipboard automatically if you haven’t copied anything recently. This was spotted in Esper’s Android 13 deep-dive, which indicates that the feature is disabled by default. The feature will remove your Android clipboard after 60 minutes if you don’t copy or cut anything new.

Technical editor Mishaal Rahman posted a clip of how this feature works on YouTube:

Rahman reduced the timeout to five seconds for the purposes of the video.

Alongside this feature, Android 13 DP1 silences keyboard haptics and other vibrations when you disable the keyboard, and ‘Material You’ adds dynamic colours to all app icons.

You can learn more about what’s new on the Android 13 DP1, here. 

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Android 13 Developer Preview 1 is now available

Android 13’s Developer Preview 1 is now available. This preview isn’t like the public beta that’s available for everyone — instead, it’s aimed at developers and some enthusiasts.

Google plans to launch several Android 13 releases in the coming months before the official version hits its Pixel smartphones and other manufacturers’ devices in the latter half of the year. For those Pixel enthusiasts with either a Pixel 4 (XL), Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 5a  (U.S. only), Pixel 6, or Pixel 6 Pro, 9to5Google has released a step-by-step guide on how to install the preview. 

If you’re not a developer, you’ll only have to wait two more months for the public beta of Android 13.

Here’s a list of some of the new features included in the update:

  • Users who are on a guest profile can access installed apps from the main profile.
  • Silent mode disables keyboard haptics and other vibrations.
  • Typically you can invoke the Google Assistant by holding the Home button (when using three-button navigation). Now you can disable this feature.
  • There’s also a Photo picker to help protect the photo and video privacy of users. It offers a standard and optimized way for users to share both local and cloud-based photos securely.

  • There’s a new UI when you are looking at your output devices and there’s a volume slider.
  • There are also new themed app icons extending ‘Material You’ dynamic colours beyond Google apps to all icons.

  • Android 13 introduces several new runtime permissions for nearby Wi-Fi devices.
  • There are changes in the Quick Settings, which allows developers to create their own custom tile for the notification shade

You can find all of Android 13’s new features in Google’s latest Android Developer blog post.

Tiramisu

It’s also worth noting that Google has confirmed the dessert name for Android 13 — Tiramisu. While Google doesn’t use dessert names anymore publically, the convention still exists for internal use.

Since Google re-branded Android three years ago, the company has avoided using dessert brands, though the unique names still live on. For example, Android 10 is Queen Cake, Android 11 is Red Velvet Cake and Android 12 is Snow Cone.

If you’re a part of the Android 13 Developer Preview, head into Settings > About Phone and tap on the Android version to check this out yourself.

Image credit: Google

Source: Android Developer Blog, Droid Life  

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Android 13 toggle could disable Android 12 battery saving feature

Google may allow Android users to turn off a new battery-saving feature that kills background processes to preserve battery life in a future update, like Android 13.

XDA Developers’ former editor-in-chief Mishaal Rahman spotted the change in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code. The change introduces a toggle to Android’s ‘Developer Options’ settings menu that would disable ‘phantom processes.’

For a bit of background, Android 12 introduced a ton of visual changes to Google’s smartphone operating system (OS). However, it also brought several under-the-hood changes that aren’t as obvious. The ‘phantom processes’ are one such under-the-hood feature — dubbed ‘PhantomProcessKiller,’ the new bit of tech kills background tasks, call phantom processes, that use too much power.

Although the PhantomProcessKiller will generally help most users by restricting background tasks and saving battery, it also might not be a good fit for others. For example, some apps may not place nicely with the new system. Power users may also want to turn it off.

Whatever the reason, it does look like a toggle will make its way to users at some point. That should be good news to anyone who relies on apps that don’t play nice with the system. The downside, however, is that it might be a bit of a wait before the toggle becomes available.

Rahman notes that toggle might not roll out until Android 13 arrives next year. Android Police agreed, arguing that because the toggle was only recently introduced, it likely won’t go live for a while. That said, there could be a chance the feature will arrive with Android 12L too.

Source: Mishaal Rahman (Twitter) Via: XDA Developers, Android Police