Tag Archives: 12L

Technology

Android 12L for Surface Duo is now available with new UI and more

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What you need to know

  • Microsoft’s big Android 12L release for Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 is now available.
  • It features a new UI based on Microsoft’s own Fluent design language.
  • There are also new fluid animations and pen features, and is 3.2GB in size.

It’s finally here! After months of waiting, Microsoft has released its big Android 12L update for the Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2, which features an updated user interface that incorporates Microsoft’s Fluent design language in many areas of the system, such as the notification shade, Settings app, and Microsoft Launcher activity feed.

Android 12L for Surface Duo also introduces a new Pen menu feature, which functions similarly to the Pen menu on Windows 11 by clicking the top button on a Surface Slim Pen 2 to reveal a quick launch panel for four apps of your choice. The new pen menu on Android 12L also shows your pen’s battery percentage.

A big theme with this release is UI polish and consistency with Windows 11’s current design language. Many areas of the OS, such as the notifications pane and multitasking switcher, now incorporate blur effects, and many gesture animations have been updated to appear more fluid and integrated with the Microsoft Launcher. 

Of course, all the stock Android 12L enhancements are also here, including wallpaper accent color theming, more privacy controls, microphone and camera usage indicators, and more. Interestingly, Microsoft is not adding the Android 12L taskbar experience to Surface Duo.

The update is 3.2GB in size for Surface Duo 2 and 2.6GB for Surface Duo 1. 

(Note: If you have an AT&T-branded Surface Duo 1 you may have to wait a few days for that update to be greenlit by the carrier.)

You can read more about the update on the official Microsoft Blog. 

Here’s the official changelog:

  • Upgrades the Android operating system to Android 12L for foldable devices. For general information about Android 12, see Android 12 (opens in new tab).
  • Addresses scenario outlined in the Android Security Bulletin—October 2022.
  • New Fluent UI—redesigned Quick Settings and Settings, refreshed Microsoft feed design, new acrylic system effects.
  • Windows accent color styles and dynamic theming based on chosen wallpaper.
  • New Windows inspired wallpaper.
  • Pen menu for Surface Slim Pen 2.
  • Transfer Microsoft Teams meeting through the Time widget.
  • Optimize battery usage and performance for Microsoft Teams through hardware offloading.

How to update Surface Duo / Surface Duo 2

  • Connect to a Wi-Fi network.
  • Select Settings on your Surface Duo’s home screen.
  • Select System.
  • Select System Update.
  • Select Check for update.
  • Select Restart now.



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Technology

Android 12L with March Feature Drop rolling out to Pixel 6

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After a two-week delay, Pixel 6 and 6 Pro owners today are starting to see the Android 12L update with the March Feature Drop roll out. 

The Pixel 6’s Android 12L update brings a slew of UI and functional tweaks – detailed here – as well as several patches. In total, 76 issues have been addressed on Google’s latest phones.

Meanwhile, a handful of features announced with the March Feature Drop are exclusive to the Pixel 6 family. This includes Live Caption for Calls, where you can type out responses that are read aloud on the other end, and Night Sight in Snapchat (app update required). Meanwhile, Spanish and Italian are now supported by the Recorder app and Live Translate. Interpreter Mode today also works in those languages, as well as French.

One of the biggest highlights is the Battery widget for Bluetooth devices, like headphones. After updating to Android 12L, you should see an update for Settings Services in the Play Store. Afterward, look for that “app” in the Widgets list to place “Battery” on your homescreen. 

At a Glance on the lock/homescreen will also surface battery information, earthquake alerts, safety check countdown (Personal Safety), and a useful prompt to turn off alarms if tomorrow is a holiday. However, this capability has not launched yet.

There are no carrier-specific builds, while this update also enables C-Band support on Verizon. You can install via the ~490MB OTA or flash/sideload immediately:

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Technology

Android 12L Beta 1: App Pairs replace ‘Split screen’ on Pixel

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As we’ve been expecting since the start of this year, Android is getting a new “App Pairs” feature that is live in 12L Beta 1. On phones, it replaces the previous “Split screen” approach to multitasking.

From Recents/multitasking, tapping the icon at the top of the screen reveals the same menu as before. However, Split screen has been replaced by “Pin to top,” though the same icon is used.

Like before, that app shrinks down, but you now get the regular card size instead of a shrunken down preview. Google has made the pull tab in between the two windows wider, while you no longer get a live adjustment. Rather, the app icons appear as the background flashes out until you stop adjusting.

The big change introduced by App Pairs in Android 12L is how groupings can be preserved in the Recents view rather than the top application being pinned in perpetuity. Multiple App Pairs can be created and accessed, while the joint card in multitasking features both icons at the top.

Meanwhile, you can double-tap the white divider to flip/switch the top and bottom apps/windows in the pairing (h/t Dylan).

App Pairs

Compared to other multitasking approaches — namely Microsoft’s on the Duo, you cannot save a pairing.

This capability is geared towards large screens, but there are some scenarios where it’s useful to have on mobile. Currently, the Android 12L Beta 1 emulator running on a tablet device shows a “Split” button, alongside “Screenshot” and “Select,” so App Pairs branding/implementation is not finalized. 

Split screen

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Technology

Google releases first Android 12L beta for large-screen devices

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Google has announced its Android 12L update — the one designed to give its OS a better experience on tablets and large folding phones — is getting its first beta release today. While Beta 1 still seems very much pointed toward developers, it could be a chance to see what Google’s working on in a (slightly) more polished state than the developer preview.

With Android 12L, Google is adding a two-column layout for devices with larger screens, which will let you get at more information at once. For example, your quick settings and notifications can display side by side. Google’s also working to improve multitasking, letting you drag an app into split-screen mode from the taskbar (which you can also use to quickly switch between apps).

Google says 12L should make it easier to multitask.
GIF: Google

As with the developer preview, Google says you should be able to run the beta on an actual large-screen device if you have a Lenovo Tab P12 Pro, though it does say that the beta won’t be available until “a later date.” If you don’t have one of those lying around or don’t feel like waiting, you can also run the 12L beta in an emulator to get a feel for how it’ll look when it becomes more widely available.

Google also says you’ll be able to install 12L on your “supported Pixel device,” a list that currently includes the Pixel 3A through the Pixel 5A, though you won’t be able to test out the large screen UI. If you really just want to be on the bleeding edge, though, or are testing out apps that make use of 12L’s new APIs, you can enroll your Pixel here. Keep in mind that as the first beta, it’s probably a little rough around the edges.

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Technology

Google details Android 12L release timeline

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At the Android Dev Summit yesterday, Google officially unveiled the first developer preview of Android 12L, a feature drop for Android 12 designed specifically for foldables, tablets, and large-screen devices.

While Android 12L primarily targets foldables, tablets, and Chrome OS devices, it will also make its way to phones. Google says for now it’s keeping the focus on foldables and Chrome OS devices, but it’ll be opening up beta enrollments for the Pixel lineup in December, starting with the first Android 12L beta release.

Here’s which Pixel phones will be getting the Android 12L beta in December:

  • Pixel 6
  • Pixel 6 Pro
  • Pixel 5a 5G
  • Pixel 5
  • Pixel 4a (5G)
  • Pixel 4a
  • Pixel 4

Besides the Google Pixel lineup, Google has confirmed that the new software will also be made available to devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Lenovo Tab P12 Pro. The first beta of Android 12L will arrive in December, followed by the second release in January and the third and final beta in February. The public release is slated for Q1 2022, likely around March.

As Mishaal Rahman points out, although the current developer preview build is API level 31, the Android 12L platform will use API level 32 once the APIs are finalized. However, it seems developers aren’t required to target the new API level when publishing apps on Google Play.

Android 12L is currently available as a developer preview, and you can try it out by booting an Android 12L system image in the Android Emulator. The new version brings along several UI refinements and features to provide an improved software experience on foldables and tablets. The new features include a two-column layout for the notification shade and lockscreen, Activity Embedding, improved multitasking experience, and so on.

Featured image: Pixel 6 Pro



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