Now, Pixel owners can try Android Q beta: Here's how

Finally, Google has released the first beta version of Android Q, giving an early glimpse of what would be coming in its next mobile operating system.

The update comes with some notable improvements like native support for foldable phones and can be downloaded on any Pixel phone, including the original ones.

Here's a complete list of incoming features and a guide to install the update.

Android Q beta now available to download

Now, Pixel owners can try Android Q beta: Here's how

Now, Pixel owners can try Android Q beta: Here's how

What you will be getting in first Android Q beta

Typically, Google's first Android beta comes as a developer-targeted preview focusing more on under-the-hood changes rather than bigger capabilities.

However, for Android Q, the search giant is offering some notable changes, including a new privacy setting allowing users to change location access for different apps. Fun2Ind.com

Using this option, you'll be able to ensure that an app gets your location only when it's being used.

Plus, there are more controls for file access

Along with location control, Google is also offering enhanced controls to limit and keep tabs on how much access apps will have to your photos, videos, or downloads.

Native support for foldables

Another big change in the first beta of Android Q is native support for foldables, just as Google promised.

With the latest iteration, developers would be able to test how apps would appear/work in different foldable phone modes - using an improved Android Emulator.

The update also offers capabilities to resize apps in split-screen mode and to manage their background behavior.

New settings panel, Wi-Fi modes

Among other things, Google is also introducing new Wi-Fi modes and a quick access setting panel in Android Q.

The former will let users switch to a low latency mode aimed at improving video calls and gaming experiences.

Meanwhile, the latter will pop-up within apps, giving users instant access to settings needed for the program to work (like Wi-Fi and mobile data in Chrome).

Photo and Video improvements in Android Q

For those look for multimedia upgrades, Android Q will come with a feature called Dynamic Depth.

The capability will allow apps to use depth map data - background and foreground details of a photo - and produce a range of blurs and bokeh effects for portrait shots. MobAsk.com

Notably, the OS will also support AV1 video codec for high-resolution video streaming with minimal data consumption.

How to install Android Q Beta 1

Any Pixel phone user can try the latest Android version, but it should be noted that this is an unfinished build and might be unstable.

Now, if you are willing to take the risk, back up all the data on your device and enroll for Google's Android beta program.

Once that's done, you'll get an OTA update notification to download the Android Q beta.

1. Google releases Android Q Beta 1 for all Pixels – here’s what we know so far
2. Android Q developer beta is available now on all Pixel devices
3. Android Q Improved privacy controls, support for foldable screens, and more

Support for foldable phones

Foldable phones are the big theme in mobile design this year, and Google is ready for it. The company has made changes to the way Android handles split-screen applications to improve their usability on folding devices. Google also says it plans to integrate support for folding displays in the Android Emulator for developers soon. soas.in

Basic theme engine

Google doesn’t mention it in its official blog post, but Android Police spotted for some theming options in Android Q’s developer settings. You can pick between different accent colors, headline and body fonts, and icon shapes. Among the accent colors there’s blue (the default), black, green, and purple.

There’s no guarantee these will make it into the final build of Android Q, mind you – Google teased a dark mode in previous versions of Android, only to pull them in the final release – but a man can dream.

Location sharing only when you want it

Why should an app require access to your location even if you’re not actively using it? It’s understandable for things like navigation apps, but for your delivery app of choice, not so much. Android Q allows you to fine-tune control over location sharing; when an app asks for your location data, you can select “allow only while the app is in use” or “allow all the time.” It’s a small but important step that could go a long way towards preventing apps from abusing data collection.

Other privacy changes include limiting access to information like IMEI and serial numbers or preventing apps from unexpectedly jumping into the foreground.

Manage phone settings within an app

Google is giving developers the ability to incorporate a system settings panel right within their app, allowing you to do things like turn on wi-fi or airplane mode without ever leaving your browser. Fun2Ind.com

Better Wi-Fi

Android Q now allows developers to enable high performance and low latency Wi-Fi modes, which should improve performance in games, calls, and more

Portrait mode and depth effects in more apps

While some camera apps take a stab at portrait mode, chances are your phone’s camera app has the most realistic depth effects. Google is making it easier for apps to use depth data by allowing apps to request a JPEG + Dynamic Depth image, allowing them to offer different kinds of blur effects. Google says it’s working with device partners to make Dynamic Depth an open format available across devices running Android Q and later. MobAsk.com

How to install the Android Q beta on a Google Pixel

One major change coming to Q is an additional privacy setting for location access that will let users limit apps to only pull that information while the app is in use, instead of just giving a blanket switch to for apps to either always have location access or never have it. Google is also putting new limits on the access apps will get to things like photos, videos, and audio as well as any downloaded files on devices.

Also coming in Q is better support for foldable phones, which is something that Google already promised back in November. Q is getting better support for resuming and pausing apps from running in the background as well as improvements to resizing apps for split-screen modes, all of which should be helpful for when the first foldable devices like the Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X are released later this year. soas.in

Another neat feature is a new Settings Panel API, which will let developers give instant, pop-up access to phone settings like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC without having to kick users out to the settings app and back. The idea is that if you’re, say, setting up a Bluetooth speaker, your configuration app would be able to pop up the device’s native Bluetooth panel to turn on the radios and connect right from the app.

Google is also finally, finally improving the share sheet in Android Q, allowing developers to pre-publish how their apps work with sharing, meaning that the share UI can load instantly instead of having to manually rebuild all the possible options every time. It’s a small change, but one that should make Android Q far more enjoyable to use.

There’s also some new photo and video options in Q: Google is standardizing how depth map images with work with Android through a new Dynamic Depth format that contains a JPEG image, depth metadata, and a depth map bundled together. Developers will be able to pull Dynamic Depth images from devices with cameras that support it, meaning that it’ll be easier for third-party apps to offer specialized blurs and bokeh options. Google also announced that Android Q is getting support for the next-generation AV1 video codec, which should offer improved streaming quality with less bandwidth once content providers start supporting it.