Last updated on October 12th, 2023 at 06:51 am
The most recent version of Google’s mobile operating system has a few minor but useful additions. You can get it today if you have a Pixel phone.
But even if Google had planned to show off everything new with Android in 2022, the pandemic hasn’t scuppered its efforts to release a new version of its mobile operating system, Android N.
Android is the operating system that runs on a wide range of devices, including those made by Samsung, LG, Motorola, Sony, and Google. Android 11 is the new version. For the past year, Google has been using numbers instead of dessert-themed titles for its products through its mobile app development team.
Therefore, when you update to the new Android, you’ll notice a few minor UI modifications and a few new features that make a real difference in your day-to-day life. First, let’s speak about how to get the new features.
Is there a way to get Android 11?
Only a small number of Android devices will be able to get Android 11 today due to the delayed roll-out of Android software updates. Samsung, for example, will take months to distribute the software to its own devices. To add insult to injury, you’ll have to wait even longer if you purchased your phone directly from your wireless carrier.
Android 11 is currently available for Pixel 2 and subsequent devices. OnePlus, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Realme phones, as well as most Nokia-branded phones from HMD Global, can also receive it (though Nokia owners might still need to wait a few weeks). Make careful to back up your phone before installing any new software. In your device’s settings menu, you should be able to find the option in Settings > System > Backup > Back up now.
To see if you can get the update, go to Settings > System > Advanced > System Update and see if you can get it. In this case, the search for an update should be initiated automatically (or you can tap Check for update). It could take a few days for anything to show up. It’s common for Google to release Android upgrades over a period of several days, even on devices that receive them first.
Make sure to check your phone’s manufacturer’s website or social media (or the web in general) to find out when or if your phone will receive Android 11. There are usually two years of Android upgrades available for most high-end smartphones, so if you bought your phone in late 2018 or earlier, you should get it.
The Best New Features
Android 11’s near-final build has been in use for a few days, and we’ve come up with 11 of our favorite features—yes, 11! This is just a small portion of what’s new; there are more than 100 new capabilities for enterprise mobile app development services that will further enhance the Android experience. On Google’s developer site, you can learn about all of them.
1. A New Power Menu Has Been Created
There has been a dramatic shift in the power menu’s appearance (a long-press of the power button on most phones). Previously, you could only see the options to restart, lock, or turn off your phone, but now, if you’ve set up Google Pay, you can quickly access your default credit or debit card.
Google Pay’s boarding passes and other tickets can also be accessed here. Samsung Pay is a better option? In theory, if you designate Samsung Pay as your phone’s default Tap and Pay option, you’ll be able to access cards in the same manner.
There are shortcuts to your Google Home app-enabled smart home controls underneath the cards. Using these quick access tiles, you don’t have to launch the Google Home app or use your voice to turn on lights, TVs, or vacuums, saving you time and effort. The power menu itself has options for customizing these controls (tap the triple dots on the right).
2. A New Media Player Design
As soon as you open the notification drawer, you’re likely to receive a pop-up notification containing music controls. The fast settings menu now includes these features, thanks to Android 11. When you swipe down from the top of the screen, you’ll notice music controls alongside your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth tiles (if you have music playing). As a bonus, it works well with streaming video (like YouTube clips) that you’ve already cast to other screens.
It’s more than simply a superficial change. If you have Bluetooth speakers or earphones connected in your home, you can also choose which device is playing the music.
To see further options, including the ability to give a song a thumbs up without having to open your music app, drag the menu down farther.
3. Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles!
The chat heads are back, aren’t they? The floating chat heads of Facebook Messenger have been used for a long time to swiftly access DM discussions in other apps. Google has taken the concept, dubbed “Bubbles,” and applied it to other messaging apps, such as WhatsApp. To activate it, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Notifications > Bubbles and turn it on by clicking the toggle.
There are a few apps that don’t support bubbles, such as Instagram Directs and Twitter Direct Messages, but you may now view your messages floating in the air. Bubbles can be dragged to the bottom of the screen to remove them.
An arrow and circle icon can be found at the bottom right of the notification. You can open a discussion bubble by tapping on the arrow pointing at the bubble. To access your message on the messaging app, tap the arrow pointing away from the bubble. There are a variety of messaging apps that may be linked together, such as Telegram and Facebook Messenger, and you can even create bubbles for specific discussions. It’s a snap to carry on a conversation no matter where you are.
4. Improved Notifications
Google is constantly updating Android’s notification system. Apps that send messages now appear under a new “Conversations” header in the list of available notifications (which also shows longer message threads). In addition, you have the option of categorizing your notifications into three different levels of importance: Silent, Default, and Priority.
A “Silent” notification header will be displayed for the first option, which means you won’t be notified of any new events. It will ring or vibrate when you get a notification on your phone that isn’t on silent, on the default setting. Certain apps, such as messaging ones, have the option to show priority notifications at the very top of the notification drawer, which makes them look like a floating bubble. There is a way for these to interrupt you while you are in Do Not Disturb mode, but you’ll need to enable this first.
To select a category, press and hold a notice. If you’d want greater control over your notifications, this is a great place to experiment. Facebook birthday reminders aren’t the only things that should be notified to you.
5. Record Your Screen Natively
Android 11 finally allows you to record the screen without the need for third-party software, whether you want to show off your gaming abilities or merely give Wi-Fi instructions to grandpa. You may access the Screen Record fast settings tile by swiping down the notification shade (you might have to swipe to the left to see it). If you can’t find it, hit the pencil symbol and drag the tile to the top to add it.
You can start recording the screen by tapping on the tile. A microphone or device microphone will record audio, and you can choose whether or not to record screen touches at the same time. As soon as the recording begins, you’ll see a three-second timer in the status bar, which will change into a red dot. The Screen Record notice may be stopped by swiping the notification drawer down and tapping the notification. Instantly share, edit or delete the content by tapping it.
6. Restrictive Permissions
The microphone, camera, GPS, and other sensors on your phone can be accessed by new apps that you install. Features often necessitate this kind of configuration. You’ll need access to your phone’s camera and microphone to use a video messaging app. However, some apps have taken advantage of these rights in order to get additional information about you.
It’s now possible in Android 11 to make apps ask for permission every time they wish to use a piece of hardware on your phone. Along with the option to allow access just when the app is open, this new feature complements it. Even better, apps that you don’t use but still have installed on your phone might have their rights automatically withdrawn over time (“a few months” according to Google).
If you want to participate, you’ll have to do it on your own. Take a look at App Info (the I symbol) and select Permissions. Allows you to remove permissions from an app when it isn’t being utilized.
7. Keep a record of all of your notifications.
The last time you had to swipe a notification away because you didn’t have time to read it, you’re not alone. You no longer have to question if it was significant. Among the new features of Android 11 is the Notification History, which you can find in Settings > Apps & notifications / notifications / Notification history. Use this feature to check recent notifications and app alerts that have pounded you within 24 hours of turning it on. These can be tapped to open the app directly, just like a standard notification.
This is a great feature for those of you who have always had trouble finding the app to use to share something in Android’s Share Menu. The problem is that Google provides a plethora of share options. Share options in Google Maps, for example, differ from those in Google Photos and YouTube, although the general Android share menu remains the same. Yikes. Tap an app in the Apps List and you’ll be able to put whatever it is you’d like to at the top of the list.
9. Improvements in voice-activated access for the disabled
Google developed Voice Access several years ago as an accessibility tool that allows people to control their phones using only their voice. Until you had to learn a few commands or pick corresponding numbers from a screen to get the job done. Android 11 is even better at interpreting the content on the screen and the context in which it is displayed. In order to open an app or do a task, all you have to do is state the name of the app or the action you want to perform. To make use of Voice Access, you must first have the app loaded on your device.
10. Suggestions for Additional Apps
It’s already possible for Android to provide intelligent suggestions about which apps you should open next. The top row of the app drawer provides a selection of relevant apps based on the context of your current workflow or even your location and surroundings. The “recommended apps” dock has been added to the home screen in Android 11. It merely moves your dock up a notch. The new dock that displays beneath the existing one will be filled with apps that Android thinks you’ll want to open next.
To use this function, you’ll need to have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to where apps show up on your home screen. Go to Home settings > Suggestions > Suggestions on Home screen and press on the home screen to turn it on or off. This new dock allows you to mix and match your favorite apps with the spinning suggestions by pinning a few of your favorites and leaving the rest of the space free.
11. Odds and Ends
Do Not Disturb mode has been fine-tuned, as well as a few other minor tweaks. As we said previously, you can now set particular messages from certain messaging applications to come through even if you’re in “do not disturb” mode. When DND is activated, all of the apps you have installed will be able to access your phone.
In Airplane mode, Android 11 won’t switch off Bluetooth, but it will continue to turn off Wi-Fi and mobile data if you’re using Bluetooth earbuds. When we all return to airports, this will come in handy.
In Android, returning to the previous screen needs a swipe in from the left or right side. Android has always allowed you to adjust the sensitivity of this, but with Android 11, you can now do it for the left and right sides of the screen separately. Hopefully, this will reduce the number of back-swipes that occur.
117 new emojis have been added! New skin tones and designs are included, but we really like the bison’s new look.
Read Also: Standard iPhone Application Development Cost
Conclusion
There is a significant lag period between the release of a new operating system and the time that businesses begin developing their software to take advantage of the new features. The organizations that take a long time to prepare their software for the next update are usually the ones that suffer as a result of fierce competition.
Make use of the first-mover advantage by contacting our team of mobile app development professionals to get your app ready for Android 11. Before you do anything else, acquire an estimate of the cost of the android app development.
Naveen Khanna is the CEO of eBizneeds, a company renowned for its bespoke web and mobile app development. By delivering high-end modern solutions all over the globe, Naveen takes pleasure in sharing his rich experiences and views on emerging technological trends. He has worked in many domains, from education, entertainment, banking, manufacturing, healthcare, and real estate, sharing rich experience in delivering innovative solutions.
