The second public beta version of Android 12 is available for download for pixel smartphones. This includes the new privacy dashboard, which is supposed to show the user which apps can access which data. The new color selection based on the colors of the background image is now integrated.
In the privacy dashboard, users are shown chronologically sorted on a time axis which applications were last accessed on the microphone, camera and Had location. For individual apps, users can also see why this access to the hardware was necessary. However, this requires adjustments to the app, which will be offered to developers for the first time with Android 12. Google recommends using the new function to make access traceable for users.
shows the status bar Access to microphone and camera at
After iOS, Android 12 also introduces indicators in the status bar that are always visible when the microphone or camera is active. This means that you can immediately see if an app has access to it. In the quick settings you can now see which apps have the corresponding authorizations, and they can also be withdrawn there. App developers ask Google to check their code and remove unnecessary access to these components.
Android shows access to clipboard
There are now quick settings for microphone and camera to generally deactivate these components for apps. If an app then wants to access the camera, for example, it only receives an empty image. Android will also control access to the clipboard from now on if another app than the one from which the text was copied wants to access it. If text is copied within the same app, the corresponding message does not appear at the bottom of the screen.
New internet button
In the quick settings, Google provides a new Internet button, behind which all network connections for private and public WLANs and cellular networks are hidden. A small arrow next to the label indicates that it is not just an on/off button for a quick setting. In the case of “Internet”, the associated menu opens from the bottom of the screen.
Google activates the “Color Extraction” function
Although not documented on the Google developer blog, Android 12 Beta 2 provides the “Color Extraction” function (internally called “Monet”) shown for I/O for the first time. Android 12 automatically determines which colors are dominant and complementary and which result in an appealing overall picture. These colors are then used across the entire operating system, for example in the notification bar, on the lock screen, in the volume control, for new widgets and other areas.
Two beta versions until the final release
Android 12 can be installed as a public beta on all Google smartphones from the Pixel 3 to the current Pixel 5 (test). Registration is possible via the Android 12 beta program page. However, the beta is not limited to pixel smartphones, as partners such as Asus, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Sharp, TCL, Transsion, Vivo, Xiaomi and ZTE are also included. Which smartphones can be used by which partner can be seen on a separate page.
Roadmap for Android 12 (Image: Google) The current roadmap provides for a public beta to be offered in July and August, with the The last beta “Platform Stability” should be achieved before the final release is announced without a specific date.