Before the launch of Android 12 Developer Preview, which may be around the corner, here’s a summary of all the Android 12 leaks we’ve seen so far.
Normally, we learn the bigger picture features of the next version of Android when building the first developer preview version, with smaller tweaks appearing in subsequent updates. This year, a significant amount of information about Android 12 was leaked or appeared in the public source code before the developer preview, which is likely to start sometime this month.
To help keep track of what’s coming with the next release of Google’s mobile operating system, we’ve gathered all the different Android 12 leaks in one hub, which will keep us posted.
Everything we know about Android 12
Android 12’s dessert
Every major version of Android, since Cupcake in 2009, has used a dessert name beginning with a subsequent letter of the alphabet. While this use was publicly discontinued with Android 10 – which would get the name “Queens Cake”, Google continued to use this extension internally. Android 11, for example, was ‘Red Velvet Cake’ – a fact that came up in a fun Easter egg from Google’s virtual Android statue for 2020.
As indicated by XDA, Android 12’s internal nickname is ‘Snow Cone’. Do with the information as you wish.
Leaked design models
More interesting is that there have been leaked mockups depicting what Android 12 should look like, and what we are seeing is quite radical redesign. You can see images of this leak scattered through this post, but it’s important to note that we do not know for sure if it depicts what Android 12 will look like when we finally see it. This is not screenshots, but are rather artist renditions of a specific design that is Google consider.
Theming system
One thing you will notice during the leaked Android 12 design models is that we best describe a primary color as ‘sand’ in the usual white or black colorways used on Pixel phones. This is thanks to an in-depth theme system that starts debuting with Android 12.
The theme system of Android 12 should offer you a few different primary colors to choose from, from which your theme will be built. Most interestingly, Android app developers can redesign their app based on the color of your chosen theme, if they prefer.
“Material NEXT”
Of course, there’s a lot more going on in the Android 12 design models than just a theme system. There is also a large collection of smaller customizations such as notice cards with much rounder corners, new shapes and spacing for quick setting tiles and more.
According to XDA, it can come together to form a larger whole that is internally referred to as “Material NEXT”. From what we can put together, it is possible that it could point to a third generation of Google’s Material Design after the original 2014 and the ‘Material Theming’ refurbishment in 2018. It is also possible that this ‘Material NEXT’ may simply refers to updates on the use of Material Design by Android’s built-in applications and UI.
“Conversation” devices
Another aspect that emerges in the leaked mockups is that Android 12 can add special “Conversations” devices for use on the home screen. Each of these widgets seems to suggest something like a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while, or a missed call that you should probably return. Details are a bit scarce at first, but it seems in line with Google’s efforts to create a people-centered operating system. ‘
One-handed mode
For those with longer phones, Android 12 may have a ‘One-handed mode’ that will shrink vertically on your phone’s screen and bring everything within reach of your thumbs. However, unlike most versions of one-handed mode that scales the height as well as the width, it seems that Android 12s can only scale down the height.
Privacy enhancements
If you use Android directions, Android 12 seems to be working on a variety of enhancements to make you more aware of your privacy. In the top right corner, you will reportedly find a privacy indicator that may appear in orange or green to let you know that an app has been using or using your camera or microphone recently.
Along with the privacy indicator, it has been leaked that the Android 12 settings app will get a revamped privacy page where you can deactivate the camera, microphone and location sensors of your phone directly.
Scroll slideshow
In 2019, Google confirmed that scrolling screenshots – where your phone takes a screenshot, scrolls down, takes another one and stitches the two (or more) together – will indeed come to Android as an original feature. So far this has not happened with Android 10 or 11, but according to XDA, Google has been working hard on scrolling screenshots, which may be ready to launch this year’s release.
Picture-in-picture enhancements
With Android 11, Google has added the ability to resize your floating picture-in-picture window by grabbing and dragging to the corner. For Android 12, according to XDA, windows in the picture can be pinched to resize exactly or double tap to quickly jump to the maximum size.
In addition, it has been leaked that windows in the picture can provide a way to mostly “stash” the window off the screen so you can see more of your currently active app. With a simple tap, your protected window pops up again.
App pair
Android 12 is set to revamp the split screen with ‘App Pairs’
Given the rise of foldable devices and dual-screen devices, Android 12 has been leaked and includes a new form of split screen called ‘App Pairs’. In the App Pairs system, you should be able to treat two separate apps as a ‘task’ in your recent applications, so you can quickly switch from one app to another app. It is unknown if Android 12’s App Pairs will also provide fast shortcuts for a specific pair like Samsung’s App Pairs.
Our team made a mockery of what we believe the Android 12 App Pairs system might look like.
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This is a mockery!
Game mode
Between the variety of games offered by Google Play Games and the growing wealth of gaming services like Stadia and Xbox Game Pass, games on Android have never been so great. To keep pace with the growth, according to XDA, Android 12 can offer a dedicated “game mode” option. More specifically, a ‘GameManager’ has been discovered that is listed as a ‘game management function.’ For now, Android 12’s potential ‘game mode’ is still a mystery.
Reduce brightness
As a small thing, XDA reported that Android 12 will get a ‘Reduce Brightness’ tile in a quick setting. From what has been discovered, it appears that ‘Reduce brightness’ is an accessibility feature aimed at those with visual impairments.
Hibernate programs
While flagship phones have ever expanded in storage space, not everyone in the world has the luxury of an expensive, high-capacity phone. To help reduce the amount of storage space used on your phone, it has been reported that Android 12 may provide a way to ‘sleep’ apps when not in active use. Details are still a bit scarce about how this hibernation will work.
Third-party app store enhancements
This particular time is not a leak, but it’s still a welcome improvement for Android. Google announced last year that it’s listening to feedback from Android app developers, making it easier to use a third-party app store – something other than the Play Store or Galaxy Store, such as the Epic Games Store – on Android 12..
Google has not shared any details on how this would work, but it is expected to be a good compromise between Android’s open nature and Google’s desire to protect people from malware.
Android 12 Features for Pixel Phones
In addition to the broader Android 12 features that should be available to owners of virtually any phone that gets the update, it looks like Google has prepared a range of exclusive features for their Pixel phones.
Double tap gesture
The biggest enhanced improvement for Pixel phones is that Android 12 should bring the double-tap gesture we saw earlier in development with Android 11. Codename “Columbus”, the Android 12 double-tap gesture should allow you to do things like open the Google Assistant create, play / pause music, open the notification screen, and more.
Face-based auto-rotation
Pixel phones should also get a new option for Auto-Rotate in Android 12, which uses the camera to check in which direction your face is turning. In essence, if you are lying on the side and holding your phone sideways, your face and phone should be the same way, and Android 12 will know that you want to be in portrait mode.
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