Reading about Android 13 while Android 12 is still rolling out for devices around the world might seem confusing. But people already have many questions regarding the release date, features, and availability of the latest Android OS after its 12th edition.
New OS releases from Android follow a very predictable release schedule. With specific phases laid out to help app developers and device manufacturers to prepare for the new release. This normally happens around the third quarter of the year.
Android 13 update?
Word of advice always go for the official source when looking or researching for the latest updates. The first official announcement happens with the release of a first Developer Preview (DP), that showcases features that are still in development for the system.
This typically happens during Google I/O – the company’s event for developers, traditionally held in May -, when the first beta version is often announced.
After initial Beta releases, Google declares that the version “includes a release candidate build of Android”. Which means the feature set is final. And at least for app developers, all the app interfaces (APIs) are ready for testing applications and games.
And after some bug fixes to the beta versions. That is mostly related to stability issues for Pixel phones. Google releases the stable version, coinciding with the announcement of a new Pixel generation.
For 2022’s Android, early changes (commits) sent to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) repository made it clear that the new version is known internally as Tiramisu.
Android 13: New features
Per-app languages
Currently, Android apps can include different translations in the APK/AAB. But changing languages are usually a system-wide option, applying for all the apps. Android 13 will change that, by allowing users to select a language specifically for each app.
The new feature was spotted by XDA Developers, as both a new option in the Languages & input menu and the App info settings:
App notifications
To fight notification spam, users already have some control over how and when apps can send alerts on their Android phones. The next OS version is getting ready to offer a better solution, according to the same XDA leak.
Although not working in the leaked version the site had access to, there was new system permission for notifications, treating the feature like the current camera and microphone access.
Transfer by tapping
This new feature basically brings back something that was deprecated by Android 10: Android Beam. Android Police revealed that the OS new version will offer the option to initiate a file transfer between devices using NFC, just like the retired feature.
Although Nearby Share offers a similar solution to the same task. Tap-to-Transfer uses the ever more popular NFC antennas (or potentially UWB), to transfer photos, videos, and other documents between phones.
More colors for Material You
How can we forget Material You? Android 12 new design language, Google is ready to the visual concept even further with Android 13. According to a leak from Android Police. The new system will offer even more customization options, with a wider selection of colors.