External display settings - a feature I spotted last month - is now live in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2!
When you hook your Pixel 8 or Pixel 9 series device up to an external monitor, you'll be able to change its display resolution or rotation under Settings > Connected devices.
When you hook your Pixel 8 or Pixel 9 series device up to an external monitor, you'll be able to change its display resolution or rotation under Settings > Connected devices.
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Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 is now available for select Pixel devices, including the new Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold!
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Oh wow, I did NOT expect Google to launch this yet!
Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 enables desktop windowing support, and it runs directly on tablets just like I said it might!
Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 enables desktop windowing support, and it runs directly on tablets just like I said it might!
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LOCK SCREEN WIDGETS ARE FINALLY BACK!
Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 enables the lock screen widgets feature on the Pixel Tablet.
More details can be found in this article on Android Authority.
Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 enables the lock screen widgets feature on the Pixel Tablet.
More details can be found in this article on Android Authority.
Android Authority
Lock screen widgets are finally here for tablets in Android 15 QPR1
Android finally lets you add widgets to the lock screen again, but only on tablets running the latest Android 15 QPR1 beta. Here's how.
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Remember the notification cooldown feature that used to be in the Android 15 preview? The one that stops notification spam?
It might be coming back in Android 15 QPR1. Here's a first look at its updated page in Settings.
It might be coming back in Android 15 QPR1. Here's a first look at its updated page in Settings.
Android Authority
Notification cooldown could make a return in Android 15 QPR1 to stop notification spam
Android 15 QPR1 could bring back the notification cooldown feature that gradually lowers the volume of successive notifications from apps.
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Goodbye Extra Dim, hello Even Dimmer!
In Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2, Google is preparing to integrate Android's Extra Dim feature into the system brightness bar, so you don't have to remember to turn it off in the morning anymore.
More details can be found in this article on Android Authority.
In Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2, Google is preparing to integrate Android's Extra Dim feature into the system brightness bar, so you don't have to remember to turn it off in the morning anymore.
More details can be found in this article on Android Authority.
Android Authority
Google is preparing to integrate Extra Dim into Android's brightness slider
Google may integrate the Extra Dim feature that makes the screen dimmer into the brightness slider, and it could happen in Android 15 QPR1.
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Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 now lets you customize the look of the mouse pointer, so you can make it easier to see.
A very small but welcome quality-of-life improvement, IMO!
For a demo of these new customization options, see my latest article for Android Authority.
A very small but welcome quality-of-life improvement, IMO!
For a demo of these new customization options, see my latest article for Android Authority.
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Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 brings the new "charging optimization" feature for Pixel phones that I spotted back in Beta 4!
This new page under Settings > Battery lets you switch between the existing "adaptive charging" mode and a new "limit to 80%" charging mode.
Several users on QPR1 Beta 1 were sent a notification telling them to turn on the 80% charging limit feature. After they did, they had no way to turn it off because this "charging optimization" page is only now rolling out. Oops.
This new page under Settings > Battery lets you switch between the existing "adaptive charging" mode and a new "limit to 80%" charging mode.
Several users on QPR1 Beta 1 were sent a notification telling them to turn on the 80% charging limit feature. After they did, they had no way to turn it off because this "charging optimization" page is only now rolling out. Oops.
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Skylo, the satellite provider behind Satellite SOS on the Pixel 9, has announced that smartphones with the Snapdragon X80 modem will have access to their Non-Terrestrial Network for peer-to-peer text messaging, location sharing, and SOS notifications.
The Snapdragon X80 modem is expected to appear in upcoming flagships powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset.
While the Snapdragon X80 modem is "Skylo certified," though, don't expect every smartphone with the modem to offer satellite connectivity out of the box. The OEM needs to pay/partner with Skylo as well as an emergency response provider like Garmin (or pass those costs onto the consumer). Fortunately, Google Messages supports the feature, so OEMs likely won't need to implement satellite messaging support on their own.
The Snapdragon X80 modem is expected to appear in upcoming flagships powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset.
While the Snapdragon X80 modem is "Skylo certified," though, don't expect every smartphone with the modem to offer satellite connectivity out of the box. The OEM needs to pay/partner with Skylo as well as an emergency response provider like Garmin (or pass those costs onto the consumer). Fortunately, Google Messages supports the feature, so OEMs likely won't need to implement satellite messaging support on their own.
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Google is reportedly planning to expand Circle to Search to more Android phones next month, ending the feature's exclusivity for Pixel and Samsung phones.
Multiple reviewers of the TECNO Phantom V Fold 2, including Ben Sin and Android Central's Nicholas Sutrich, were told by TECNO that Circle to Search is coming to the device in October.
Since its debut in January, Circle to Search has only been available on devices from Google and Samsung. Google at I/O said they wanted the feature to be on 200 million devices by the end of 2024, so ending this exclusivity will help achieve that goal.
Multiple reviewers of the TECNO Phantom V Fold 2, including Ben Sin and Android Central's Nicholas Sutrich, were told by TECNO that Circle to Search is coming to the device in October.
Since its debut in January, Circle to Search has only been available on devices from Google and Samsung. Google at I/O said they wanted the feature to be on 200 million devices by the end of 2024, so ending this exclusivity will help achieve that goal.
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Google is preparing to borrow a neat feature from Apple's Stolen Device Protection!
Even if a thief knows your phone's lock screen PIN, they'll still need your biometrics to unlock apps.
Android's version will be called Identity Check. More details are available in my latest article for Android Authority.
Even if a thief knows your phone's lock screen PIN, they'll still need your biometrics to unlock apps.
Android's version will be called Identity Check. More details are available in my latest article for Android Authority.
Android Authority
Google is preparing to borrow a feature from Apple's Stolen Device Protection
Google is preparing to implement an Identity Check feature that forces you to use your biometrics to unlock apps.
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Google Contacts is rolling out a redesigned UI for adding new contacts. This has rolled out to myself and two other users.
This new UI was first spotted back in April but now seems to be more widely rolling out. We're on v4.39.53. You can see what the old UI looked like in this article.
Thanks to RayDacted for the tip!
This new UI was first spotted back in April but now seems to be more widely rolling out. We're on v4.39.53. You can see what the old UI looked like in this article.
Thanks to RayDacted for the tip!
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