Google has released the third Android 13 beta for its Pixel devices, putting the OS at the first stage of Platform Stability. Google released the first developer preview of Android 13 this February, followed by developer preview 2 in March. That was followed by the first public beta in April and the second public beta at the Google I/O developer conference last month. The final beta is expected to be launched in July before the stable release is rolled out alongside the launch of the Pixel 7 in August.
Up until Android 9, Google used to name each Android version after desserts and sweet treats. It started with Android 1.5 Cupcake and went on until Android 9 Pie. In between, the company also tied-up with FMCG companies to come up with names like Android KitKat and Android Oreo. However, all that changed with Android 10, when the company decided to do away with the fun naming convention to clear up confusion in non-English speaking countries where people often didn’t know what these names meant or even how to pronounce them properly.
With the third Android 13 beta, the operating system has reached the first stage of the platform stability milestone, which denotes that the operating system’s APIs and app-facing behaviors have been finalized. This means that developers can now roll out compatibility updates without worrying about changes that could break compatibility with the final release. In fact, Google is recommending that developers update their apps now to target the latest API. Android 13 beta 3 also incorporates new features for large-screen devices, such as tablets. That includes a new taskbar, multi-window mode, and new optimizations to enhance the experience for apps that are not yet optimized for the large-screen experience.
New Features In Android 13
Android 13 will largely be an iterative upgrade over its predecessor, but it will still bring some cool new features, including a more intuitive QR code scanner, a Google Search bar in the app drawer, and improved smart home controls. It will also implement a system-level check to prevent sideloaded applications from abusing accessibility APIs to run malware on compromised devices. New privacy features include a private photo picker and more granular notification and media permissions. Some of the other new features include HDR video, new Material You theming options, an additional clock style on the lock screen, a redesigned ‘Now Playing’ widget in the notification area, native Bluetooth LE Audio support, per-app language settings, secondary profiles for NFC settings, and more.
Those with a Google Pixel device of recent vintage can download and install the latest release through the Android Beta program, but do note that betas and preview builds generally come with a host of bugs along with other performance and stability issues that could impede productivity. Hence, it is advised that users do not install these builds on their daily drivers, and only use redundant devices to try out these releases. In either case, users trying to install the Android 13 beta should back up their device first as an insurance against possible problems.
