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    7 Android 11 features you need to use right away on any phone

    Get to know Android 11 to unlock all the brand new options. 
    John Kim/CNET
    Google launched Android 11 in early September, however relying on who makes your cellphone, it could possibly be some time earlier than you will see the replace and enhancements. That mentioned, Google simply introduced two new telephones — the Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5 — and each run Android 11 out of the field. Whether you purchase a brand new Pixel cellphone, or look ahead to Android 11 to succeed in your present system, there’s a lot to get enthusiastic about.  You’ll discover delicate tweaks all through the brand new working system that make an enormous distinction in how you will use your cellphone on daily basis. For instance, there is a new Bubbles chat characteristic that makes it simple to maintain messaging from any app. My private favourite is the brand new fast controls web page for accessing my sensible dwelling gadgets with a swipe, and there is a new screen-recording device for exhibiting off your favourite gameplay, or to assist somebody troubleshoot a problem.  These are seven of my favourite Android 11 options and methods to use them.

    Discover the newest information and greatest evaluations in smartphones and carriers from CNET’s cell consultants.

    Android 11’s fast controls are my new favourite controls. 
    Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET
    Android 11 Quick Controls are a real spotlight The very first thing you need to do after putting in Android 11 is long-press the ability button in your cellphone to deliver up the brand new fast controls display. On the Pixel, no less than, this display offers you energy management choices alongside the highest and offers shortcuts to your Google Pay playing cards and boarding passes. Then under that you will discover my favourite characteristic of Android 11 — fast controls for sensible dwelling gadgets.  My cellphone robotically picked just a few gadgets I’ve linked to Google Assistant, just like the Nest thermostat in my workplace and my Nest video doorbell. I may even view a livestream from my doorbell straight on this display with out having to open the Nest app, which is gradual and a ache to make use of. It’s nice.  You can add or take away sensible dwelling gadgets from this grid by tapping the menu button and choosing add or edit controls. Hold will prevent time from listening to carry music.
    Google
    Google Assistant can wait on maintain for you Instead of ready on maintain, listening to the identical boring music on loop, Google is bringing a brand new characteristic to Assistant, and it is debuting with the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5. Called Hold For Me, Google Assistant’s new trick exhibits a immediate on the display letting you recognize you’ll be able to go about doing no matter it’s you wish to do, and your cellphone will provide you with a warning when somebody lastly solutions. In order for the characteristic to work, your cellphone might want to have vibrate or sound turned off, and you will have to have referred to as a toll-free quantity. The in-call display can have a Hold for me button which you could press once you’re positioned on maintain. Tap Start, after which a display will present up reminding you to not dangle up. You cannot hearken to music or use your cellphone to play a video. When you are taken off maintain, your cellphone will let you recognize “Someone’s waiting to talk to you” so you’ll be able to then resume the decision. I can not wait to get a Pixel 5 in my fingers to do that out. Normally I place the decision on speaker and simply hearken to music within the background, however even then, that will get annoying. If I can offload a psychological activity like ready for somebody to reply the cellphone, I’m all for it.  New message notifications get the limelight After putting in Android 11, you will discover that alerts from your whole messaging apps, like Google Messages, have a devoted “Conversations” part in your notification tray.  The change makes it simpler to seek out the alerts you seemingly care about most, however when you obtain numerous messages, even this part can get messy.  Instead of letting Google type your new alerts by itself, long-press the dialog you wish to observe intently and choose Priority. Doing this can transfer new messages in that thread to the highest of your whole dialog alerts, activate Bubbles (extra on that under), and use the contact’s avatar because the alert icon within the notification tray and on the lock display.    Being capable of look on the notification tray and see a profile icon, as a substitute of the usual textual content alert that does not supply any actually beneficial data, is a pleasant contact.  Messaging Bubbles on your pals seem like they’re going to be helpful  Remember Bubbles? This characteristic was speculated to be a part of Android 10, however Google pulled it on the final minute. It made the reduce for Android 11.  Bubbles are much like Facebook Messenger’s “chat heads” characteristic. When activated, a small avatar — or Bubble — exhibits up in your display and is seen it doesn’t matter what app you are utilizing. Tap on the avatar and it’ll open a small window so that you can learn and ship new messages in that thread, with out absolutely opening the app. You can drag the Bubble round your display, or drag it to the underside of the display to delete it.  In order to make use of Bubbles for a dialog, faucet on the small Bubbles icon within the bottom-right nook of the notification. Tapping on it’ll instantly allow Bubbles for that thread. Alternatively, you’ll be able to mark a dialog as a precedence to all the time use Bubbles for that contact.  Bubbles are handy, however will take some adjusting to. 
    Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
    You can then drag the icons on your numerous Bubbles chats round in your display, or faucet on the avatar for the particular person you wish to discuss to, and the thread will open up, all with out ever leaving the app you are presently utilizing. I’m glad that is an opt-in characteristic, primarily based on every thread, as a substitute of an all-or-nothing characteristic like Chat Heads, which will be messy and downright overwhelming.  To eliminate a bubble for a particular dialog, simply drag the icon to the small X that exhibits up on the backside of your display.  If you wish to fully disable Bubbles, disallowing any and all apps from triggering the possibly annoying characteristic, open the Settings app and seek for Bubbles. There will likely be a setting to show off Bubbles altogether.  App builders might want to replace their app to work with Bubbles, and proper now I can verify that Google’s Messages app works. Facebook Messenger labored all through the Android 11 beta program, however an replace only a few days earlier than Android 11 launched appears to have damaged or disabled the combination. If you are having bother getting Bubbles to work, I like to recommend reaching out to the developer and seeing in the event that they plan on including help for Bubbles. 
    Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET
    Android 11 will get fancier music controlsIn Android 11, there is a new playback management that now not seems as a pending notification. Instead, there is a small field that exhibits up as a part of the short settings panel. You can skip, return, play-pause and swap the system the music is taking part in on all from the brand new management field.  As quickly as you begin taking part in some music, the brand new media controls will likely be accessible. They’re so significantly better than the previous notification.  You can lastly report your display with an official Google device. 
    Jason Cipriani/CNET
    A built-in display recorder Screenshots are a fast and simple strategy to seize one thing in your display, however there are occasions when a recording is healthier suited to the duty at hand. For instance, if you wish to exhibit your gaming abilities, or spotlight the steps to breed a bug — display recording FTW!  You can discover the Screen Record device within the Quick Settings panel after putting in Android 11. If it is not seen, faucet on the pencil icon so as to add it to your panel.  Tap on the Screen Record icon and choose whether or not you need your microphone to report audio and in order for you your contact interactions to be highlighted within the video. To cease recording, faucet the Screen Record notification. The video will likely be saved to your digicam roll the place you’ll be able to then edit and share the recording.  App ideas on the house display are new. 
    Jason Cipriani/CNET
    For Pixel house owners: App Suggestions change your app dock At some level after putting in Android 11, you will see a immediate asking you to allow app ideas on the house display. Essentially, the brand new app ideas will change the app dock in your cellphone, leaving it as much as your cellphone to swap apps out and in of the underside row — or dock — in your cellphone, primarily based on which apps you employ at sure instances of the day.  The apps have a glowing border round them, letting you recognize your cellphone added them, and steadily change once you return to your own home display as you employ your cellphone. You can long-press on any of the app icons to pin that suggestion to your own home display.  You may block apps from exhibiting up as ideas if you don’t need one thing like Gmail exhibiting since you use a unique e mail app.  To entry App Suggestions and tailor the way it works for you long-press on your own home display and choose Home Settings then Suggestions. There you’ll be able to management ideas within the app drawer and on the house display or block apps from exhibiting up on the listing.  Google additionally made some essential modifications to how Android handles privateness settings you need to know, as properly. If you are in search of directions to put in Android 11, we’ve your again. 

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