Android 12 (codenamed Snow Cone) will allegedly pack includes already selective to outsider Android skins like MIUI and OxygenOS. The update will bring an improved one-gave mode, redone auto-revolution, a brisk setting for diminished brilliance, and a gaming mode.
In spite of the fact that Snow Cone is certainly not an affirmed codename, Android 12's first Developer Preview construct is relied upon to deliver on February 17.
Trust and safety
Privacy is at the heart of everything we do, and in Android 12 we’re continuing to focus on giving users more transparency and control while keeping their devices and data secure. In today’s release we’ve added new controls over identifiers that can be used for tracking, safer defaults for app components, and more. These changes may affect your apps, so we recommend testing as soon as possible. Watch for more privacy and security features coming in later preview releases.
Modern SameSite cookie behaviors in WebView - In line with changes to Chrome and other browsers, WebView includes new SameSite cookie behaviors to provide additional security and privacy and give users more transparency and control over how cookies can be used across sites. More here.
Restricted Netlink MAC - We’re continuing to help developers migrate to privacy-protecting resettable identifiers. In a multi-release effort to ease migration of device-scoped Netlink MAC, in Android 11 we restricted access to it based on API level 30, and in Android 12 we’re applying the restriction for all apps - regardless of targetSDK level. More here.
Safer exporting of components - To prevent apps from inadvertently exporting activities, services, and receivers, we’re changing the default handling of the android:exported attribute to be more explicit. With this change, components that declare one or more intent filters must now explicitly declare an android:exported attribute. You should inspect your components in the manifest in order to avoid installation errors related to this change. More here.
Safer handling of Intents - To make handling PendingIntents more secure, Android 12 requires apps to explicitly declare a mutability flag, either FLAG_MUTABLE or the new FLAG_IMMUTABLE, for each PendingIntent. More here.
- Camera based
Auto-rotate gets smarter with a touch of Google's AI
XDA-Developers reports the reworked auto-rotate feature will rely on the front camera to determine the orientation of the device, instead of combining data from the phone's accelerometer and gyroscope sensor. The present implementation is notoriously unreliable and many users just disable auto-rotate altogether.
It is debatable if this implementation is feasible on smartphones with retractable front cameras such as the OnePlus 7 Pro.
- Controller support?
Android 12 bringing GameManager service with unknown feature set
Further, Android 12's new GameManager service is described as a "service to manage game-related features". Although the specifics are unknown, we believe it could bring improved controller haptics for mobile gamers.
It could also include basic features such as navigation gesture disabler, auto-rotation disabler, and enabling Do Not Disturb mode.
GameManager service is separate from GameManagerClient that is a part of Google Play Services.
- One-tap solution
Reduce Brightness quick setting toggle for assisting the visually impaired
Separately, Google is merging a new Bluetooth API which will let games detect and inform you of your Bluetooth controller's battery level.
Android 12 will also allow users to dim the display brightness to a predetermined level using a quick settings toggle called "Reduce Brightness". This is an accessibility feature to aid those with visual impairments.
- Inspired by iOS
Visually restyled elements scattered across the UI in leaked screenshots
The visual redesign of the operating system is reminiscent of iOS to a certain degree. Icons will be visible on the top right to let you know if a particular app is using your camera or microphone. Tapping the icons would let users toggle the app's permission.
The update will also feature conversation widgets and quick setting tiles that change shape when switched on.
The Android 12 Developer Preview program will run from February 2021 until the final public release to AOSP and OEMs, planned for later in the year.
