Happy Friday, everyone. We have a lot of fresh Android news to cover today. Google and other big brands are pushing out fresh updates right now. You will find fresh software betas, new phone leaks, and important security fixes in this roundup.
Android Beta Updates Bring New Media Controls
Google is rolling out a fresh quarterly platform release beta today. This new build is hitting supported Pixel phones right now. If you like testing unfinished software, you can grab it over-the-air.
What is New in the Latest Beta
The biggest change is a redesigned media output switcher. You can now move your audio from your phone to your smart speakers much faster. The slider design looks cleaner and matches the latest Material You style guidelines.
Google also added a new battery health indicator. This tool tells you the current maximum capacity of your battery. It works just like the tools you might have seen on other mobile operating systems.
Major App Updates From Google
Google Maps is getting a major upgrade this week. The app now uses advanced machine learning to predict parking spots in busy downtown areas. You will see a small icon next to your destination that tells you if parking is easy or hard to find.
Google Photos is also getting some love. The editing suite now includes better object removal tools. You can erase unwanted people from your background with just one tap.
If you want to make your phone do more work for you, check out our guide on Digital Assistants That Finally Finish Your To Do List. These smart tools work great with your favorite Android apps.
New Smartphone Announcements
Samsung just teased its upcoming mid-range lineup. The company sent out press invites for an event happening early next month. We expect to see new phones with better cameras and brighter screens.
OnePlus also made headlines today. They announced a new software support policy for their budget devices. You will now get four years of major OS updates on select models. This is great news if you like to keep your phone for a long time.
Security Patches and Important Fixes
Security is always important for your daily driver. Google published the details for the upcoming security bulletin. The patch fixes two critical vulnerabilities in the media framework.
You should check your system settings later today. Make sure your device is ready to install the patch as soon as your carrier pushes it out.
Android Feature Updates and Improvements
Quick Share is getting faster between Android and Windows devices. Microsoft and Google worked together to improve file transfer speeds. You can now send large video files in just a few seconds.
Here are the main features rolling out this week:
- Faster Quick Share speeds for Windows users
- New media output switcher in the beta build
- Improved battery health tracking tools
- Smart parking predictions inside Google Maps
That is all for today. Keep checking back here at thetechpapa for more tech news every day. Have a great weekend.
