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On August 15, 2022, Google launched the 13th main iteration of the Android platform. This launch comes simply barely earlier within the yr than did Android 12 and serves so as to add some severe polish to the large adjustments that got here alongside.
For these anxious to get your arms on this newest incarnation of the Android platform, that point has both already come, or you might have an prolonged wait in your arms. Either approach, as soon as Android 13 makes its method to your gadget, you can be glad for the improve.
In this TechRepublic cheat sheet, we’ll introduce what Android 13 is, when it’s best to count on it, and what new options and enhancements to count on. This cheat sheet will likely be up to date as obligatory and can function a guidepost to Google’s newest cellular working system (OS).
What is Android 13?
Android 13 (code title Tiramisu) is the 2022 launch of Google’s cellular working system. This newest iteration of the platform arrived after 4 beta cycles and a preview launch that landed in February 2022.
Android itself is probably the most extensively used cellular working system on the planet, with an 86.2% world market share. That world market share has held regular within the 80s since 2014, with its lowest rank being 81.1% in 2014.
When you break down the market share by nation, you do discover Android’s maintain on customers to wane significantly. For instance, within the U.S., Android has a 48.5% share, whereas iOS holds 51.2%. As of May 2022, Android 11 was probably the most widely-used model of the platform, with 28.3%. That, after all, will most certainly change as soon as extra handsets begin choosing up the 13th launch and extra gadgets migrate to 12.
SEE: iCloud vs. OneDrive: Which is finest for Mac, iPad and iPhone customers? (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
One of the problems going through Android 13 is that it stands within the shadow of Android 12, which led to one of many greatest adjustments to the platform since its inception. Material You launched a model new appear and feel for Android, which gave it a much-needed refresh to carry it consistent with present aesthetics.
What does that imply for Android 13? It might imply that, at the least for some customers, the most recent launch of the working system will likely be a disappointment. The satan, after all, is within the particulars. There are loads of new options and adjustments to get enthusiastic about.
Android 13 launch dates
Android 13 started rolling out to Pixel gadgets on August 15, 2022. However, that doesn’t imply all Pixel customers obtained the replace on that day. Case in level, it’s now three days after the introduced launch, and my Pixel 6 Pro has but to obtain the OTA (over-the-air) replace. I actually might side-load the set up, however I’ve realized, through the years, that’s not at all times the perfect path to a profitable improve.
Nevertheless, Android 13 has formally been launched and can arrive for supported Pixel gadgets first. Those supported Pixel telephones embrace every thing from the Pixel 4 on up. So, in the event you’re a Pixel 1, 2 or 3 proprietor, it’s time to improve in order for you Android 13.
What options include Android 13?
What’s sizzling at TechRepublic
This is what you actually wish to know. And there’s a lot to see on this class — solely, a lot of it could be a bit extra delicate than Android followers have been hoping for. Be that as it might, right here’s a brief checklist of the extra thrilling options to be coming together with the brand new launch.
Three new Material You coloration schemes
Developers, producers and customers will now have entry to a few new “tonal spot” colours, particularly Vibrant (supplemental accents), Expressive (wider vary of colours that reach to the background) and Spritz (monochromatic theme). This addition will likely be fairly delicate, and a few customers won’t even discover it.
Improved launcher search
This addition will most certainly be restricted to Pixel telephones solely and can function a much-needed enchancment over the earlier search device. With the revamped performance, customers will be capable of situation searches:
On-device actions
Play Store apps
YouTube
Google
There may also be a gesture part to the search, which can react otherwise, primarily based on whether or not you swipe up from the underside or just faucet the search bar. Users may also be capable of pin search outcomes to the Android house display screen.
Improved notifications
The notifications additionally obtain some additional consideration by the use of a brand new opt-in system. As of Android 13, the system will not enable an app to show notifications until a consumer explicitly provides permission. Any time a brand new utility is put in, when it’s first opened, a permissions pop-up will seem (Figure A), requiring the consumer to permit or disallow notifications for that app.
Figure A
Figure A: The opt-in notification pop-up for DuckDuckGo on Android 13.
Faster entry to QR code scanning
In earlier incarnations, scanning a QR code meant both putting in a third-party app or utilizing Google Assistant. Either approach, it was by no means probably the most environment friendly methodology. Now, customers may have entry to a QR code Quick Settings Tile (Figure B).
Figure B
Figure B: The new QR Code Quick Settings Tile on Android 13.
Tap the tile, and the built-in QR Code Scanner will open.
Per-app languages
With Android 13, customers can now set their desired languages on a per-app foundation. Say, as an example, you’ve gotten associates that you just regularly message who stay in Germany. If that’s the case, you possibly can set the language for the Messages app to German. The solely caveat to this function is that it should be enabled throughout the app, so customers most likely received’t see the function instantly.
Better battery info
Android 12 did an incredible job at enhancing the battery lifetime of Android gadgets. Case in level, the notorious Pixel 4 gadgets suffered mightily underneath the pressure of an underpowered battery. With Android 11, the Pixel 4 was fortunate to make it by 1 / 4 to half of a day. Once upgraded to Android 12, the battery life vastly improved.
With Android 13, one essential addition has been made. When an app is inflicting extreme battery drain, which I’ve skilled a number of instances, the system will warn you with a silent notification. Having been alerted to the scenario, you possibly can then pressure shut the app or restart your gadget to resolve the problem.
UWB help
Ultra-Wideband (UWB) is a brand new know-how that makes it potential for a cellular gadget to behave as a automobile key and as a locator for misplaced gadgets, and it helps enhance each NFC and Bluetooth connections.
The one earlier situation with UWB help is that the gadget should have had a built-in UWB antenna, which the Pixel 6 Pro does. With the discharge of Android 13, there’s a brand new {hardware} abstraction layer that provides this performance, so all Android gadgets can implement UWB.
Bluetooth Low-Energy Audio
Standard Bluetooth audio streams have at all times been problematic, particularly in terms of multi-stream help and power consumption. With Android 13, Bluetooth Low-Energy Audio is now totally realized.
With this, customers will expertise decrease power utilization whereas nonetheless having fun with the identical high quality of audio, the flexibility to concurrently stream to a number of headphones and audio system, and full help for Google’s new Bluetooth listening to support protocol. This means listening to aids will take pleasure in extra dependable connections to Android than with earlier incarnations.
More customizable lock display screen
When Material You hit gadgets, some customers complained that the lock-screen clock was a bit “extra.” It was large, particularly when there have been no notifications to show. Android 13 provides customers a toggle to disable that huge clock. In Settings > Display > Lock Screen, you’ll discover an ON/OFF toggle for the double-line clock (Figure C).
Figure C
Figure C: The skill to shrink the lock display screen clock has arrived.
Toggle the double-line clock to Off, and say goodbye to the large lock-screen clock.
Improved photograph picker
The new launch provides a particular photograph picker for together with photographs in messages. Instead of the app opening to a full-blown photograph picker, a extra streamlined model will seem which can assist protect your privateness and solely make sure the app solely has entry to the photographs you choose. This new function has but to make it to each service, as builders need to combine it for it to look.
Android 13 privateness and safety
Aside from the opt-in permissions, Google has gone out of its method to make privateness and safety a no brainer. The new OS will impose extra limitations on apps and provides extra management to customers over what permissions are granted and what information might be accessed. Along those self same strains, Android 13 requires apps to request permission to entry varied file varieties, corresponding to audio, photographs and movies.
SEE: Mobile gadget safety coverage (TechRepublic Premium)
Another safety function present in Android 13 is that the system will mechanically delete clipboard contents after a sure interval. By doing this, apps won’t have entry to older gadgets within the clipboard, which has brought about safety points up to now. This additionally means customers will likely be much less more likely to by chance share a chunk of copied textual content with the fallacious particular person.
Along with the opt-in app permissions, Android 13 will mechanically revoke permissions from apps that haven’t been used for an extended interval.
Google has utterly reworked how safety updates are dealt with. With the brand new Google System Updates framework, the working system is damaged down into parts, so updates might be despatched to gadgets for particular “modules” as a substitute of getting to replace your complete OS. This means quicker rollouts of updates and quicker patching.
Finally, Google has dedicated to rewriting a few of the code base for important parts in safer languages corresponding to Rust and has developed the Google Play SDK Index to offer additional transparency for the most-used software program improvement kits (SDKs).
What telephones are in a position to get Android 13?
As typical, the brand new launch will first be out there for Pixel gadgets. Expect the rollout to Pixel 4, 5 and 6 gadgets to complete up in the course of the third quarter of 2022, and the broader launch for Samsung, OnePlus and different producers is anticipated to start in This autumn of 2022 and trickle into Q1 of 2023.
The Pixel 7 would be the first gadget launched with Android 13, which ought to grow to be out there as quickly as October. Google has by no means been fairly correct with its Android launch dates. Even figuring out that, I might count on that every one Pixel gadgets may have Android 13 by the tip of August and all different gadgets by the beginning of 2023.
How to obtain Android 13
Your finest wager is to replace Android with the OTA possibility. This is the most secure and simplest way of upgrading. To verify your telephone for an replace, go to Settings > System > System Update, and faucet Check For Update (Figure D).
Figure D
Figure D: Checking for an replace on a Pixel 6 Pro working Android 12.
If you’d desire to not wait, you possibly can at all times sideload Android 13 with the assistance of the Android SDK and the adb and fastboot instructions. You might want to obtain the correct picture in your gadget after which acquire entry to restoration mode in your gadget.
Although it might appear tempting to sideload Android 13, I wouldn’t suggest it. I’ve had a few situations the place this methodology failed, and I wound up with a bricked gadget. Ergo, your finest wager is to attend for the OTA improve. Trust me once I say it’s well worth the wait.
And even in the event you neglect to consistently verify for an out there replace, the Android system will finally warn you that the replace has been downloaded within the background, so all you’ll need to do is reboot your gadget to use it.