Last year, Google only finished Android version 12 in October. For the in-house Pixel devices, it was only available a few weeks later last year. With Android 13 you are there a little earlier: Android 13 is already finished. Pixel devices are already being updated to the new Android version today, and various other manufacturers are likely to follow suit in the coming weeks and months – as is well known, the first beta programs are already running.
We have reported continuously on the new features of Android 13 over the past few months. Reason enough to take another look at the most important functions on the occasion of Release Day. The focus of Android 13 is the expansion of privacy and data protection as well as the integration of different devices into one ecosystem.
With Android 13, Google has further developed the design language “Material You”. Material You is no longer reserved for Google since Android 12L it is part of the AOSP. Most of Google’s own apps are now adapted accordingly, and third-party apps can also adapt their apps to the color scheme and the new look. Also in focus: personalization and choosing your own color scheme. The color design now extends to the icon pack, which can be adjusted.
In addition to the system language, Android 13 now also allows individual apps to be assigned a specific language. This is then not valid for all apps but can be adjusted separately for each app. Handy if apps don’t come with a good German translation, for example, or if you’re traveling with several languages.
Other things have also been screwed on the surface: This includes an updated media player that adapts to music or podcasts. In the case of ongoing music playback, a playback bar is displayed as well as the album art. The bedtime mode has also been expanded. It now allows the background image to be dimmed and a dark theme to be selected.
I had already mentioned that data protection and privacy are of central importance in Android 13. With the update, individual photos and videos can be selected that individual apps can access. So you don’t have to issue a general permit with access to the entire media library.
The clipboard automatically deletes sensitive data such as email addresses or login data after a certain period of time. There is also more control over notifications. Here you have to give the app explicit permission to send notifications. The permission to send notifications could be revoked beforehand, but now no permission is granted for the apps by default. Again, you have control over which apps are allowed and which are not.
When it comes to “ecosystem”, Google has further innovations and exciting functions to report. For headphones, Android 13 supports “Spatial Audio”. This is able to detect head movements and adjust the spatial sound accordingly. The new Pixel Buds Pro, for example, is already prepared for this, and other headphones will certainly come from third-party providers.
And switching devices between smartphones, tablets and the TV set (Android, Android TV, Wear OS, Chrome OS) should also work without any problems. In the audio area, there is also support for Bluetooth LE audio. The new Bluetooth standard allows lower latency times and can supply multiple devices with one transmission at the same time.
The device gearing can also be seen in the “Copy and Paste” area. If you copy a URL, an image or the like on a smartphone, you can also paste it on the tablet and vice versa.
Tablets – good keyword. It was already apparent with Android 12L: Google is again attaching importance to tablets. A Pixel tablet is not expected to be launched until next year, but Android 13 already supports some adjustments to the big screen. Such improved multitasking with a taskbar and support for drag-and-drop in split-screen mode. Tablets are also now able to track the palm and stylus as separate touches, so there should be fewer false inputs.
Android 13 has also been further worked on under the hood. This is how third-party camera apps can support HDR videos. Instead of supporting HDR videos, it would be useful for numerous apps to access the camera directly at. With Snapchat & Co, this is only the case with some Pixel and Samsung smartphones.
Accordingly, only those devices are supported that have had an adequate connection to the camera so far. Let’s see if the adjustments to the Camera2 API have any effect now. In addition, the media output menu has been revised – for Cast, it would be time for a revision and new features. Numerous other innovations are also under the hood, we will certainly point out one or the other to you in the blog in the coming weeks.
Starting today, Android 13 is available for Pixel devices. Corresponding updates are in the starting blocks for devices from other manufacturers (Samsung, OnePlus, etc.), so it depends on the manufacturer and often also depends on the device (age) and how quickly you are supplied with the new Android version.
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