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Google Android 12 Beta 3 – New features, improvements and more!
Recently, Google released the Android 12 Beta 3 update for eligible Pixel smartphone users through OTA. In addition, the company said that the engineers have planned to reach the full Platform Stability at Beta 4, which will release next month, followed by a stable release.
Like previous Developer Previews and Beta updates, the search engine giant included several new features and improvements with the latest Android 12 Beta build for Pixel phones. According to Google, Beta 3 brings many updates to functionality, user experience, and performance. Here are a few highlights.
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Android 12 Beta 3 – New features, improvements
- Android 12 for Games
You can react to the players’ performance profile selection for your game like better battery life for a long commute, or performance mode to get peak frame rates with Game Mode APIs.
Furthermore, these APIs will be joined with the upcoming game dashboard that provides an overlay experience with quick access to key utilities during gameplay. However, select devices will get the game dashboard later this year.
- Better, faster auto-rotate
With face detection, Google enhanced Android 12’s auto-rotate feature using the front-facing camera to more accurately recognize when to rotate the screen. This feature is especially helpful for people who are using their devices while lying down on a couch or in bed.
- Scrolling screenshots
Google has finally enabled scrolling screenshots to make it easier to capture and share scrolling content. After upgrading to Android 12 Beta 3, users will now see a “Capture more” button to extend the screenshot to the full content.
- On-device search
Android 12 Beta 3 introduces platform support for AppSearch that is a new high-performance on-device search engine. With this functionality, apps can index structured data and search over it with built-in full-text search capabilities.
Besides, apps can also use native features like highly efficient indexing and retrieval, multi-language support, and relevancy ranking.
- Privacy indicator APIs in WindowInsets
With the Android 12 Beta 3, Google included new privacy indicator APIs to WindowInsets, which allows you to get the maximum bounds of the indicators and their relative placement on the screen to take into account the current orientation and language settings.
- Camera and microphone toggles configurable for enterprises
After introducing new microphone and camera access indicators with Beta 2, Google now made these accessible to enterprise administrators who can set any restrictions needed on fully managed devices.
- New permission for CDM-paired apps starting foreground services
Apps paired with Companion Device Manager (CDM) can launch foreground services from the background by declaring new general permissions to better support companion apps performing core functions while providing transparency to the system.
Samsung revealed its Project Infinity, which aims to make your Galaxy devices safer against cyber threats. Android is vulnerable due to its open-source nature, making regular security updates necessary for your Galaxy phone’s security.
Project Infinity of Samsung is a classified operation, working on safeguarding Galaxy devices and users around the clock for safer operations. Samsung Newsroom has recently published a blog post, revealing insights from specialist meetings.
Cyber Threat Intelligence
Samsung’s Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) taskforce is a reconnaissance unit within Project Infinity along with the Red (RED), Blue (BLUE), and Purple (PURPLE) Teams, which go beyond lab conditions to identify real-world dangers.
- RED and BLUE perform proactive attack and defense functions, seeking out vulnerabilities and taking measures against them.
- PURPLE is a special operations unit that acts as both a sword and shield for specific critical areas.
It’s worth noting that Samsung has deployed RED, BLUE, and PURPLE teams in various countries including Vietnam, Poland, Ukraine and Brazil. CTI is dedicated to identifying potential threats and stopping hackers from taking control of your device.
“Once we spot these kinds of threats, we collaborate with developers and operators to lock everything down for preventing attacks,” said Ranger, a CTI member.
Samsung Security Updates
Earlier this year, Samsung announced it to support flagship Galaxy devices for seven years. The new policy applies to all flagship Galaxy devices launched after the Galaxy S24 series. It’s the longest software support offered by any mobile brand.
These updates mean customers can safely use their phones for longer. As cyber threats become more common than you think, security updates are much more crucial to safeguard your Galaxy from any potential threat of vulnerability.
Owners of select Samsung Smart TVs, monitors, The Premiere 7 & 9 projectors, or The Freestyle 2nd Gen can stream Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Flight Simulator 2024 and hundreds of other games with Gaming Hub Xbox Game Pass.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Flight Simulator 2024 are two of the most popular games of 2024. Thanks to Samsung Gaming Hub, you don’t need to download any of the Xbox Game Pass titles, no meaning no storage required – just jump in and play.
The company has also built an engaging gameplay experience designed by fans, for fans through The Six, challenging players’ knowledge and providing another way to interact with the world of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Notably, Samsung’s Gaming Hub is available on a variety of Samsung screens. It includes the AI-powered 2024 TV lineup, monitors, projectors, The Premiere, and The Freestyle 2nd Gen projector, offering instant access to console-free gaming.
Anyone with a Samsung Smart TV will be able to use their remote to jump in and play. This way, Gaming Hub provides a co-branded experience, giving Call of Duty fans another way to engage with the franchise they love.
For starters: The Six offers daily trivia where players can answer a series of six questions in competition with other players around the world. Correct answers with the fastest response time will achieve higher scores.
Samsung could launch the Galaxy ixi-O AI Phone next year. The company has collaborated with LG Uplus to develop a custom smartphone. The device is said to feature Galaxy AI and LG Uplus’s AI call assistant ixi-O.
Sources citing KEDGlobal revealed that Samsung and LG Uplus working together to develop the Galaxy ixi-O AI Phone. It’s a big development in the smartphone industry, while the handset is highly likely to be Korea-limited.
Samsung fans are well aware of the Galaxy AI feature suite. ixi-O is an AI-powered digital assistant developed by Korean carrier LG Uplus. The company plans to enter the smartphone market, featuring its own-developed AI assistant.
The report indicates that Samsung and LG Uplus’ ixi-O AI Phone will launch as early as next year. The development project focuses on crafting a “real AI phone” that goes beyond simply integrating AI assistant services into a smartphone.
ixi-O comes with useful features such as AI call answering, detecting voice phishing in real-time, recording and summarizing phone calls and converting voice conversation into text – all within an on-device environment.
Image: ixi-O AI | LG Uplus Newsroom
Based on specifications, the Galaxy ixi-O AI Phone will be based on a Galaxy phone available globally. The design will match with a global Galaxy smartphone, but the software may be tweaked as per the carrier’s requirements.
A custom Galaxy phone isn’t shocking or impossible in South Korea. Samsung releases Quantum, Buddy, and Jump-branded phones in the market. The company collaborates with Korean carriers to bring these devices to mainland Korea.
The carrier introduced an on-device AI-powered ixi-O assistant earlier this month. LG Uplus will initially target its consumer base for the new AI Phone. However, the AI Assistant may be expanded to a broader audience across Korea.