On Good Authority: 5 Android 13 features we’re really excited about

Its been almost two weeks for the reason that first Android 13 developer preview dropped. Like in earlier years, this primary launch lays the bottom for Googles focus within the subsequent few months. But not like Android 12, this replace is much less of a groundbreaking change and extra of a reiterative one. Material You enhancements are in retailer, after all, together with extra privateness and safety enhancements, and another cool features.

Weve rounded up a few of ourAndroid Authority staff members and requested them to share with us the features theyre most excited about. Some of those are already dwell, others have been introduced by Google however nonetheless inaccessible within the first developer preview, and some have been leaked lately.

Dig deeper: Android 13 features: Everything we all know up to now

Material Yous icon theming C. Scott Brown

Its been a really very long time since Ive flashed a customized ROM onto one among my private units. With the outstanding Android skins providing loads of features and adaptability these days, I merely dont discover it mandatory anymore.

However, I nonetheless all the time use a customized launcher (Nova Launcher) and all the time use a customized icon pack. I would like my house display, app drawer, and different areas of the telephone to look and performance the best way I desire, and a third-party launcher is the one device for the job. And icon packs? Theyre simply a number of enjoyable.

Thats why, with Android 13, Im most excited about computerized icon theming. The main downside of icon theming is once I set up new apps, I normally have to swap out the default icon for one from my customized pack. To make issues worse, some apps dont have customized icons in most packs, which forces me to decide on a similar-looking icon as an alternative. I hate it, and its tedious.

The concept that I’d not want to do that anymore as a result of Android would simply do it for me is a revelation. It will get me one step nearer to the actual dream: simply utilizing my telephone as-is with none customization in anyway.

More customization: The finest icon packs for Android

Tap to switch media Dhruv Bhutani

Pairing up an Android telephone with an exterior speaker has all the time been a little bit of a track and dance routine involving Bluetooth pairing, or Google Cast when you’ve got a supported system.

With that in thoughts, Googles choice to streamline audio sharing with Android 13 has me excited. As somebody who has spent means an excessive amount of attempting to get all my audio system related, the flexibility to easily carry my telephone near a speaker and switch any audio stream feels like a dream come true. Admittedly, we have seen this characteristic with iPhones and HomePods however Googles implementation ought to carry a much wider vary of audio merchandise to the portfolio.

Google may even take it a step additional by sharing media playback controls between a number of Android units as properly which might make it the right answer for teams or events.

Related:How to forged and mirror to Chromecast

Better QR code scanning Hadlee Simons

QR code scanning on Android has been a little bit hit-and-miss lately. Google Lens is able to doing it and a few OEM digicam apps can do it, however theres positively room for a extra constant and seamless method.

Thankfully, Googles choice to carry a QR fast toggle appears to be a very good step in the best course. This signifies that accessing a QR code scanner needs to be as seamless as toggling Bluetooth or your Wi-Fi connectivity. Its value noting that MIUI already has a QR code fast toggle, so this could be one other instance of Google embracing a characteristic first seen in a third-party Android pores and skin.

In saying so, I’d additionally prefer to see Google take it one step additional and by some means combine all of a customers QR-enabled apps in Google Lens.

Better Material You Joe Hindy

Once upon a time, I used to root my telephones so as to add extra themes. I used to be an ardent CyanogenMod person and I cherished with the ability to obtain an app and alter how my telephone appeared.

When Android 12 got here out, I lastly noticed some framework being laid down for that stage of customization inventory in Android. With Android 13, quite a lot of these components are being improved. You have extra shade choices to select from, icons are getting higher help, and it looks as if Google is constructing it out extra.

Now, its unreasonable to suppose Ill get the extent of granularity I as soon as did as a root person operating a customized ROM primarily based on AOSP, but when Google can get even midway there, Ill think about it a cheerful compromise. Android 13 is not there, however its one other step nearer, and that makes me excited for Android 14.

We requested, you advised us:Custom ROMs nonetheless have a spot on Android

Guest mode app set up Rita El Khoury

For the longest time, Ive needed an incognito mode for some apps on Android a means to make use of sure companies with out that utilization being traced to me or tracked throughout apps. Signing in and out solves the previous drawback, however not the latter.

I attempted utilizing Guest Mode or making a separate person profile on my telephone, however that wasnt supreme as a result of I nonetheless needed to log in to the Play Store to obtain the app, or discover the APK to put in it. Both are cumbersome and each take up double the house storage.

With Android 13, I can merely toggle off which apps are enabled on the visitor profile and that is that. Switch to it and the app is already there, however clean. And it shouldn’t have any strategy to hint any utilization to me. Plus, this may be very useful for those who really need another person (in all probability a child) to make use of some apps with out giving them full entry to your telephone or pill.