Android 13 leaks just tipped three major upgrades

Android 13 leaks only tipped three major upgrades

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Android 13 is coming. In fact, we await the first Developer Preview to state adjacent month. In the lead up to information technology, several possible features accept appeared, which offer a glimpse at what we can expect from the final release later on this yr.

3 things of notation have popped up: easier QR code scanning (via Android Police), Tap-to-Transfer media playback handoff (via Android Police), and a revamped media output picker (via Android Police force). Nosotros'll go over these features hither in a chip.

All of this comes courtesy of a "trusted source" in contact with Android Law. Acquit in mind that all of these features are subject area to modify, development, or removal as Google works on them. That's how software development works.

Android 13: Streamlined QR code scanning

In this age of COVID-xix, many restaurants have moved to online menus which you can admission via a QR code. It's a pretty neat idea all things told, turning what used to be an badgerer into something useful.

With near phones, y'all burn down upwards your camera app and point information technology at the QR code. This ordinarily offers up a prompt for you lot to tap that volition have you to wherever the lawmaking wants you to go. Google seems to want to ameliorate upon that, based on the screenshots provided in Android Constabulary's article.

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android 13 qr scanner option — (Image credit: Android Police force)

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android 13 qr scanner quick settings tile — (Paradigm credit: Android Law)

The first screenshot above shows an selection for "Allow access to QR scanner from lock screen." That's pretty cocky-explanatory, though we're not sure how it would work in practice. It could exist a shortcut of sorts to a QR scanner style, or something even more seamless.

On a like notation, the second screenshot shows united states a QR scanner shortcut tile in Quick Settings. This could open a view of the QR scanner mode in the camera app, offer a quick and painless way to scan the code. Information technology's just too early to tell.

If you accept an iPhone and HomePod mini, you tin hand off media playing on your phone to the speaker past tapping your phone to it. It's a great fashion to laissez passer music to speakers in dissimilar rooms if y'all're moving between them.

Based on information provided to Android Police force, Android xiii might go something similar. Currently dubbed "Media TTT" — with the "TTT" standing for "Tap-to-Transfer" — this feature could allow phones to hand off media playback to some other device.

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android 13 media ttt — (Image credit: Android Police)

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How this will work remains unclear to Android Police and it'southward possible that Google still doesn't fully yet know how information technology's going to work. Whether the source device communicates the handoff via NFC, UWB, or something else isn't known.

However, the screenshots obtained by Android Police show a scrap notification at the top. The first i says to movement closer to the target device, the 2nd says that the media is playing on the target device.

If this functions similarly to Apple, and then it could mean that yous'll be able to laissez passer music of what have you to a Chromecast or Nest speaker. But since we don't know the means of communication, Media TTT could require specialized hardware. I know that I won't upgrade all of my Google Abode/Nest speakers just for this feature.

The final chip of Android 13 info that Android Law obtained is much less heady. Just put, Google is apparently testing a redesign for the media output picker. This is the menu that appears when y'all tap the output text in the media playback notification. This is the role that tells you whether the media is playing on your phone's speaker, Bluetooth earbuds, Chromecast device, etc.

Prototype 1 of two

android 13 output picker — (Epitome credit: Android Police)

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In the start screenshot, the i that shows the output picker based on the playback notification, you can meet the rounded book bar and the output device ("Not Airpods" in this case). But if yous pay attention, the option to bring up the picker in the outset place is missing from the notification shade.

Android Constabulary'due south source affirms that the button to bring upwardly the picker is nonetheless there before the card appears. Whether the disappearance is a bug or a redesign remains unknown. You can likewise call up the output picker from the Audio settings, correct beneath the principal media book control.

Android thirteen outlook

Android 13 is many months away, and we may not see the first beta until Google I/O in May. But nosotros could get the kickoff Developer Preview next calendar month in February, assuming Android 12L hasn't messed with the evolution release bike.

While all three of these are pocket-sized features, information technology's good to see that Google is at to the lowest degree considering improving some of the UI and UX elements for Android 13. We'll hear all near the new features at I/O, and when people kickoff digging into the Developer Previews.

Stay tuned for more Android xiii news as information technology happens.

Jordan is the Phones Editor for Tom's Guide, covering all things telephone-related. He's written nearly phones for over five years and plans to go on for a long while to come. He loves zilch more than relaxing in his domicile with a book, game, or his latest personal writing project. Hashemite kingdom of jordan likes finding new things to dive into, from books and games to new mechanical keyboard switches and fun keycap sets. Jordan tends to lurk on social media, merely you can best achieve him on Twitter.