The latest version of Android is now rolling out to supported Pixel phones, offering more customization, audio improvements, and tighter security and privacy controls.
Android 13 has arrived. While the new version isn’t a dramatic upgrade from Android 12, it does include a host of improvements that should be useful to individuals and organizations alike. To tout its new operating system, Google published a blog post on monday which also describes the latest features and updates in Android.
Where users Android 13 . can find
First, Android 13 has just launched, so it has only reached a few devices so far. To use the new operating system, you’ll need a Pixel 4 or later, which means any device in the Pixel 4, 5 or 6 arrangement. If you qualify, just go to the Settings screen on your phone and check the System Update setting. The new version will come to other eligible Android phones later this year, including those from Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus and Vivo.
Android 13 User Features
Building on the Material you design Android 13, which was introduced last year, lets you customize the icons for both Google and third-party apps to match your background theme and colors. Just long press the home screen and select Wallpaper & Style. You can then equip your screen with different background images, themes and colors.
Languages
If you work and speak different languages alone or in your organization, you can better control how and where you use each language. For example, assign one language to your phone’s overall system, but then apply different languages to specific apps.
TO SEE: BYOD approval form (Tech Republic Premium)
Bedtime Mode
To make sure you sleep well, Android 13 lets you customize the built-in bedtime mode by adding a dark theme and a background dimmer. The goal is to help your eyes adapt to dark conditions if you need to use your phone at night but want to easily fall back to sleep afterwards.
Copy and paste across devices
Not yet available but promised soon, another new feature in Android 13 lets you copy content from one device to another. You can copy text, an image or a hyperlink from your phone and then paste it to your tablet, or vice versa. For this to work, the sending device must be running Android 13, while the receiving device must be on Android 6 or higher.
Audio on Android 13
The improved Media Player changes the display based on your current music or podcast. For example, listen to a specific song or album and the player will show you its album art, complete with a play bar that moves as the song plays. In another audio enhancement, the Spatial Audio feature changes the source of the sound based on how you move your head, providing a more immersive experience.
With Android 13 also comes support for Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio, a Bluetooth standard that aims for lower latency. This means you’ll sync audio better with the source without the lag that sometimes occurs with standard audio.
TO SEE: iCloud vs. OneDrive: Which is Best for Mac, iPad, and iPhone Users? (free pdf) (TechRepublic)
Android 13 on tablets
For Android tablets on version 13, a refined taskbar lets you see all your apps in your library, allowing you to drag and drop any app into split-screen mode. Furthermore, Android tablets will interpret your palm and stylus as two different types of touches. So if you’re writing or drawing on the screen, you should experience fewer accidental marks just by resting your hand on the screen.
Improved privacy controls
In a nod to privacy and security, you don’t have to share your entire photo library with apps that request access. Instead, you can only share specific photos and videos. When you copy content to the clipboard, all sensitive data, such as your email address or account information, is automatically erased after a short time. And any app that wants to send you notifications must first ask for your permission instead of sending them by default.
