Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1
Every so often, a new beta version of Android is released. That has happened again now, with an update to Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1. If you are part of the test programme, you can expect the update on your Pixel smartphone from now on. The new test version brings several improvements, though really big changes remain out.
Photo: 9to5Google
Torch
Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 gets a handy improvement for the torch tile in the quick settings. You'll find a slider there for the torch's brightness. With this, it is no longer just a simple switch for turning the torch on or off. When you hold down the button, you can flip the screen out to adjust the torch's brightness.
Photo: Android Authority
Navigation buttons
Also interesting is the presence of an option to flip the navigation buttons on your Pixel phone. Samsung phones, for example, are by default set up with a different layout than other Android devices. For instance, the order there is: multitasking, home and back, while on other Android devices, the back button and multitasking are swapped. It is an alternative to using gestures.
Indicator and more
Google has also added a new indicator dot, which appears at the top of the screen. We already know the green bullet, which indicates that an active app is using the camera or microphone. Now a blue bullet is added to that. It is shown next to the battery icon and indicates that an active app is using your location. When an app uses both, only the green dot is displayed.
From now on, on your Pixel phone, with the update, you can also remove At a Glance from your phone's home screen. This is the dynamic widget with, for example, weather information, but it can also adjust to calendar items and the like. Another improvement is the option to cast screen content to a suitable device. There is also a new animation when opening a folder.
For now, the beta version is available; the final version will be rolled out in March.
