The primary Android 15 QPR1 Beta 1 launch didn’t reveal a lot when it comes to new stuff that we might all see and play with. As you possibly can think about, there was seemingly a bunch of stuff hidden, so for the brand new Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 that dropped at this time, Google has determined it’s time to push behind-the-scenes stuff to the entrance.
We’ve solely had the brand new Beta 2 on our Pixel 9 Professional for a couple of brief minutes and the adjustments are already beginning to present. Now we have a brand new settings design, keyboard switcher shortcut, and extra.
New settings design: Whenever you head into Settings in your Pixel gadget with Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2, you’ll be greeted by the design beneath. Google is now grouping bundles of settings collectively in bubbles, kind of like Samsung does. They’ve additionally eliminated the shortcut within the high proper to your Google profile and changed it with a “Google” part on the high that takes you to an analogous space. After all, there’s a large “Search Settings” field on the high you possibly can sort in.
It very a lot appears to be like like an unfinished piece of beta UI, in my view.
Quick keyboard shortcut switcher: If you’re on QPR1 Beta 2 and soar right into a textual content field, a brand new globe icon seems within the navigation space. This icon is definitely a keyboard switcher that may be very very like the one present in iOS. Tapping this icon will rapidly swap you between keyboards (when you’ve got a number of put in). You can too long-press on it to dive into extra keyboard settings or to manually decide a brand new keyboard.
Desktop Windowing on tablets: As part of Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2’s launch, Google formally introduced that desktop windowing has been launched on tablets. As you possibly can see within the picture beneath, Android tablets can pop-out home windows and allow them to float on high of one another, similar to you’ll do on a PC with a number of apps or home windows open.
On this state of affairs, the taskbar will get pinned on the backside to point out you which of them apps are open, so you possibly can simply faucet between them if they’re hidden due to a much bigger window. You can too pin apps on this taskbar for fast entry. This windowing provides a header bar to the highest of apps too, so you will discover extra methods to manage every window. Oh, after all, you possibly can resize home windows by grabbing their backside proper corners.
To entry this expertise you would wish a Pixel Pill operating at this time’s Beta 2 construct. As soon as in your gadget, you’ll press and maintain the window deal with on the high of the center of a display screen and drag it into the UI earlier than releasing.
For extra, see Google’s full write-up.
Lockscreen widgets debut on tablets: Lockscreen widgets have been as soon as a factor on Android and we have been at one time an enormous fan. Google then eliminated them, solely to look at as Apple re-introduced the thought and made of us followers as soon as once more as if the idea was new. Google is now deciding to carry them again, however for the second, solely on tablets with this QPR1 Beta 2.
To get began, you’ll replace your Pixel Pill to this new construct and then you definately’ll begin seeing them on the lockscreen. For our Pixel Pill, as soon as up to date, there have been a number of widgets already dwelling on the lockscreen in an space off to the precise of the primary lockscreen. All it’s important to do is swipe from right-to-left to see them.
You possibly can add, take away, or transfer widgets by long-pressing on the lockscreen after which hitting the “Customise” button on the high. From there, you possibly can individually faucet a widget earlier than choosing “Take away” should you’d now not prefer it there. You can too long-press on a widget to then drag it to a brand new location. For those who press the “Add widget” button, a well-known widget display screen ought to seem with nearly your whole widgets accessible.
This nonetheless appears to be like like a system that would use some enhancements (like measurement changes). For now, it seems that the widgets are a 3×2 format, but it surely certain can be good to have the ability to increase one thing just like the climate widget or your property controls widget.
We’re updating as we discover new stuff!
