Android Q Public Beta, Rolling Out To Google Pixel Devices

Android Q is the latest Android OS version by Google. With some advanced features and latest tech device compatibility. Google released the first beta version of the Android Q today.

You can download and run Android Q on all Google Pixel devices, to get Android Q on your Google Pixel device, you need to be a part of the Google Android Beta program.

How to Download Android Q:

Once you are a part of Google's Beta program, you will receive the build over the air. Android Beta program users can enroll Google Pixel devices from the source link below. 



What's new in Android Q:

Privacy: Google introduced new privacy and security policy with Android Q to enhance privacy for OS controls, file-based encryption, Google Play Protect, and more. With Android, Q Google has also provided options to control an apps' access to photos, videos or audio collections via new runtime permissions feature. Also, apps that access downloaded files on your device have to now go through the system file picker. Android Q has a unique real-time running feature which will prevent any background app from launching an activity unless it is essential, such as alarms or an incoming call.


Control over location: Android Q will give you more control over the location sharing. With Android Q, the user will have the option to provide app permission to use location all the time, only when the app is in use, or never. This is an extraordinary feature I found which will help your phone to save better and internet data.

Device location access and foldable screen support : With new folding smartphones support one can let two apps work simultaneously, and to notify the app when it has focus. Apart from that, Google will also give you to decide how your app is shown on foldable screens. We should hear more on that in the upcoming betas.

Sharing shortcuts: Android Q with a new shortcut feature in Android Q user can jump directly into another app for sharing content using a feature called Sharing Shortcuts. Also, the next Android version will include a new settings panel which will let you see key system settings such as Wi-Fi connection, network, and aeroplane mode on third party apps via a floating window. 

Dynamic Depth Image: With new Android Q image feature, apps can request a 'dynamic Depth Image' which allows you to use specialized blurs and bokeh options as well as enjoy 3D images and support for AR photography.


Source: Android Beta program

Android 9 Pie, Rolling Out To Google Pixel Devices

Google has revealed that Android 9 will be called Pie and made Android 9 available to its Pixel branded phones. Android Pie makes use of artificial intelligence to anticipate user actions. For example, it includes adaptive battery and adaptive brightness. Together, this will adjust the settings throughout the day to reduce power drain while making sure users have access to the phone’s full power. App Actions predict what users are likely to do next based on their context and displays that action on the phone. 

Android Pie introduces new navigational gestures that rely on swiping and flicking a small pill that appears at the bottom of the screen. The smart text selection tool now transports text more easily between apps, while the tweaked Quick Settings bar offers a better way to take and edit screenshots. The new dashboard is meant to help you use the phone less. Which includes an app timer, wind down, and an improved do not disturb mode to make sure people spend time away from their phone without interruptions. 

These well being tools are only available in beta, and currently requires a beta invite from Google (Digital Wellbeing beta link). The new Android 9 OS also includes a number of security improvements, such as a more secure way to handle biometrics. Google is distributing Android 9 Pie to Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, Google Pixel 2, and Google Pixel 2 XL devices via an over the air download. Android 9 will also reach select phones from Sony, Xiaomi, HMD Global, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, and Essential (Essential PH-1 Android 9 release), as well as all qualifying Android One devices later this fall.


Source: Google 

Final Android P Dev Preview Goes Live, Official Android P Coming Soon!

Android P is almost here! As Google puts the finishing touches on the updated platform, today Google and Essential bringing us Android P Beta 4.

Android P Beta 4 is the last preview milestone before Google launches the official Android P platform later this summer. Google says to take this opportunity to test your apps and publish updates, to make sure you offer a great experience for users transitioning to Android P!

What's in this update?

Today's Android P Beta 4 update includes a release candidate build with final system behaviors and the official Android P APIs (API level 28), available since Android P Beta 2. It includes everything you need to wrap up your testing in time for the upcoming official Android P release. Visit the Developer Preview site for details and check out the what's new in Android P Developer Preview video for more on what's new in Android P for developers at the source link below.

How do I get Android P Beta 4?

It's easy, you can get Android P Beta 4 on Google Pixel and Essential PH-1 devices by enrolling at the source links below. If you're already enrolled in our Android Beta program you'll automatically get the Android P Beta 4 update soon. As always, downloadable system images for Google Pixel and Essential PH-1 devices are also available (source links below). Partners who are participating in the Android P Beta program will also be updating their devices to Android P Beta 4 over the coming weeks.


Source: Android P Developer Preview site, Android P Developer Preview download link, What's New in the Android P Developer Preview

System Images: Google Pixel devices, Essential PH-1

Google Rolls Out Android P Developer Preview 4

Google's Android P Developer Preview Beta 4 is available now if you have a Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, Google Pixel 2, Google Pixel 2 XL, and Essential PH-1. Today Google has announced Android P Beta 4, an early release candidate build which comes with near final system behaviors.

The official Android P APIs have been finalized with the previous Android P Beta and Android P Beta 4 seems to be all about bug fixes and minor improvements. No major new features have been added in the newest Android P Beta, Google keeps on polishing the software ahead of its graduation from beta to stable which is said the released in August or September.

System images are up for grabs if you want to manually flash your Pixel's or Essential PH-1. If you've been running Android P Beta 2 on your device you'll see an over the air update notification in the next few days. If you haven't joined Google's Android Beta Program and want to do so now head on over to the Android P Beta source link below. Once you enroll a supported device you'll receive an OTA update that will install the latest beta.


Source: Android Beta Program, Essential PH-1 Developer Beta

Android P Developer Preview Beta 2, Now Available For Google's Pixel Handsets

Android P Developer Preview Beta 2 has been released by Google. Android P Developer Preview Beta 2 devices include the Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel 2 XL. To receive the update OTA you need to enroll your Pixel in the Android Beta Program by following the source link OTA/flash. You can also flash the factory image if your Pixel has an unlocked bootloader. 

Android P Developer Preview Beta 2 includes the final Android P APIs and an updated SDK. While Pixel owners can install the update keep in mind that it really is aimed at developers only, and could be buggy. 

If you're interested in loading Android P Developer Preview Beta 2 on your Pixel device via an OTA update or flashing it using a factory image, click on the source links.

One major change includes the "clear all" button once you swipe to the left while in the app switcher. The update also includes the June 5, 2018 Android security patch.

If you don't have a Pixel, keep checking in. Google could soon release the Android P developer preview beta 2 to non-Pixel devices such as the OnePlus 6, Essential Phone, Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, Sony Xperia XZ2, Nokia 7 Plus, Oppo R15 Pro, Vivo X21 and the Vivo X21 UD.


Source: Android Developer blog, Google Android Beta Program

Google Pixel 2 And Google Pixel 2 XL's Portrait Mode Made Open Sourced

Google made a Research Blog post about the Google Camera’s portrait mode. The Google Pixel’s portrait mode only needs a single camera lens, unlike many other OEMs that require a second camera to map out depth to synthesize the bokeh (blur) effect.

Google’s camera uses semantic image segmentation to make this happen. It is able to map out which pixels pertain to the subject and which ones belong to the background. This technology has been released as open source by Google so that any phone maker can implement the technology in its own smartphones or app developers to make include it into their own apps.

The semantic image segmentation model can also be used to label pixels as anything like road, person, dog, and sky. Check out the the source link below for more details on how Google's Semantic Image Segmentation with DeepLab works.


Source: Google Research Blog

Android P Developer Preview, Now Available

Android P is now available as a Developer Preview! It’s currently available to the Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, Google Pixel 2, and Google Pixel 2 XL at this time.

This is the first Android P build and is labeled as an “alpha” release. It’s for developers here, rather than being used as a daily driver.

Remember this is not a beta, so this isn’t available in the Android Beta Program. Follow the source links for install instructions and file downloads.


Source: Instructions and factory images

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL's Portrait Mode Has Been Ported To Non-Google Devices Running Oreo (APK Download)

Google Camera modder Charles Chow has created a modded Google Camera APK with portrait mode on board for the first-generation Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL, the Google Nexus 6P, and Google Nexus 5X. Chow is well-known in the Android community for porting newer features to older phones. 

Charles Chow's explanation of Camera NX is more complicated than he lets on, but to the end user portrait mode simply replaces the lens blur mode. Taking a photo in this mode will produce two images: one HDR+ photo with zero shutter lag, and one with the portrait effect applied.

To get this feature on your Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, Google Nexus 6P, or Google Nexus 5X, simply download Camera NX v7.3 via the source link below. Charles Chow's version of Camera NX is based off of Google Camera 5.1.016, which is the most recent Google Camera v5.1.018.


Source: APK 

How To Enable Google's Pixel 2 And Pixel 2 XL Visual Core HDR+ Feature On Android 8.1 Beta

How to enable the Pixel Visual Core’s HDR+ feature.

Go to the Settings menu.

Scroll down and select System.

Tap on Developer options.

Make sure the Developer options is toggled on and scroll down until you find the Debugging subheading.

At the bottom of this section, locate Camera HAL HDR+ and toggle it on.

A pop-up will appear letting you know that you must now restart your smartphone before the Pixel Visual Core can begin working.


With the Camera HAL HDR+ option turned on when you take a picture, the custom chip will start handling the HDR+ image processing.

Google’s Pixel 2 Camera App Gets Ported To Original Google Pixel And Google Pixel XL

The new Google Camera app delivers a handful of interface changes as well as a Motion Photos and Face Retouching.

It’s said that the more advanced features like AR Stickers, Motion Photos, and Face Retouching may not work properly and Portrait Mode is not operable on account of requiring a dual camera sensor. However availability seems to be dependent on your device and APK version installed.

If you'd like to try this for yourself, you can head to the Google Camera source link below and download the APK.


Source: Google Camera

Google Pixel 2 Launcher With Google Now APK Download

We got our hands on the APK file for the updated Pixel Launcher that will ship on the Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel 2 XL with its bottom Google Search bar and At A Glance widget.

If you install the updated launcher on your device you'll get those changes. Bottom Google Search bar, top At A Glance widget, and new animations. The Google Search bar stays on all the screens but the At A Glance widget will only show on the first screen. The At A Glance widget will display the weather only if you have location turned on.

If you want to try the new Pixel Launcher on your device regardless whether it's a Google Pixel, Google Nexus, or other OEM made phone you can grab the APK file below at the source link. Remember you'll need to install it as a system app on non Google Pixel or Nexus devices to get the Google Now feed on the left screen.


Source: Pixel Launcher