Android 14
Google releases Android 14 QPR2 Beta 3.1
Google is moving forward very rapidly in terms of providing new software updates for Pixel devices. Recently, it introduced the QPR2 Beta 3 update, and now, without taking a long time, the company has started rocking out the beta 3.1 update.
What’s new in Android 14 QPR2 Beta 3.1?
With the latest Android 14 QPR2 Beta 3.1 update, users will get a plethora of bug fixes that will enhance the overall performance of the devices. In a nutshell, the latest update will improve several internal functions of the devices, including landscape mode, lock unlock issues, quick settings, audio quality, and many more.
However, there are several issues that remain unresolved, such as native crash issues, system connectivity issues, the theme not working perfectly on foldable tablet devices, etc. For more information about the changes, you can check the official changelog below.
Which devices are eligible for Android 14 QPR Beta 3.1?
Google is providing the new Android 14-based QPR2 beta 3.1 update to Pixel 5a, Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro. The latest update for these devices is coming with the firmware version number AP11.231215.009. It also includes the latest January 2024 security patch.
It is worth noting that this update will only be available for those devices that have already enrolled in the beta program.
Android 14 QPR2 Beta 3.1 official changelog
- Fixed an issue that prevented overlays such as the Game Dashboard from opening while the device was in landscape mode. (Issue #312516206)
- Fixed an issue where the device sometimes failed to unlock if always-on display mode was enabled and the user tried to use their fingerprint to unlock the device.
- I fixed an issue where the height of the Quick Settings dialog that lists Bluetooth devices sometimes expanded unexpectedly.
- Fixed an issue where the default search engine for the device would sometimes be set to the wrong provider after restoring device data from a cloud backup.
- I fixed an issue where the display area of Quick Settings didn’t update correctly after changing the system display size in accessibility settings.
- Fixed an issue that sometimes caused degraded audio quality when making calls or recording using the microphone.
- Fixed an issue that sometimes prevented a user from changing device keyboard settings.
- I fixed an issue that caused some translations to be missing for various languages.
- Fixed an issue where work profile icons were not shown for work apps when the work profile was paused.
- I fixed an issue that caused some shaders to render incorrectly.
- Fixed an issue where icons sometimes scaled incorrectly when entering picture-in-picture mode while the device was rotated.
- Resolved an issue where the launcher on foldable devices would occasionally appear empty if the device was locked while unfolded and subsequently unlocked after folding.
- Fixed an issue for foldable devices where, after folding or unfolding the device and then launching a pair of apps that were already open in split-screen mode, the app divider stopped responding to touch controls.
- Fixed an issue for foldable devices where the screen sometimes flickered when unfolding the device.
- Fixed an issue for tablet devices that sometimes caused a gray screen to briefly flash when dismissing some on-screen activities.
- Fixed an issue for tablet devices that caused the touch targets for taskbar icons and navigation buttons to be smaller than usual.
- Fixed various issues that were impacting system stability, performance, connectivity, camera, and accessibility.
- A native crash issue in /system/bin/surfaceflinger sometimes causes devices to reboot unexpectedly.
Know issues
- A system connectivity issue sometimes causes both outgoing and incoming calls to fail to connect.
- For foldable or tablet devices, the UI navigation handle that allows a user to access the taskbar after launching an app sometimes renders too dark or too light (depending on the system theme), making it difficult to see and interact with.
- An issue with the system UI sometimes causes app icons to display in the wrong locations after setting up the device.
Last month, Samsung officially confirmed the One UI 6.1 update for the 2022 models. Now, keeping its promise, the company has started rolling out the major update for the Galaxy S22 series.
The Android 14-based One UI 6.1 update for the Galaxy S22 series is live in South Korea. Users who own the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra can identify the latest update by the firmware version numbers S901NKSU3EXDC, S906NKSU3EXDC, and S908NKSU3EXDC, respectively.
Samsung has released several Galaxy AI features with the One UI 6.1 update that will help you provide a better communication experience and take advantage of the ability to quickly understand information.
For your information, the Galaxy S22 series device will get the benefit of all the important Galaxy AI features, including Circle to Search, Live Translate, Generative Edit, Note Assist, Transcript Script, Chat Assist, and many more.
Apart from the Galaxy AI feature, the device will also get some important additions on the customization side, where users will get several new changes related to wallpaper, lock screen, alarm, calendar, and many more.
To check the latest update on your device, navigate to the settings, then select the software update option here. Tap on the download and install option. Wait until it finishes searching to see if the update is available, then tap on the install button.
Samsung Galaxy XCover 5 is one of the rugged smartphones that is dedicatedly made for using it in any weather condition. It is worth noticing that the company hasn’t limited it to giving tough hardware but also keeps it up to date with its fresh software. In the last major update, Android 14, it has grabbed some new features, and unfortunately, it has also got an issue with the camera, which is causing inconvenience to the users.
Galaxy XCover5 getting a camera issue after Android 14
The Galaxy XCover 5 has received Android 14 and One UI 6.0, and after installing them, users have started reporting about the camera issue. In the reports, the consumers have pointed out that they are not able to use the camera focus like before. Since the camera is the most frequently used feature of the smartphone, its malfunction is significantly affecting the overall performance of the devices.
Due to the malfunctioning of the autofocus, users are also having difficulty making payments due to the autofocus malfunction. When they open the QR code scanner, they are unable to do so because the camera is not focusing on the code.
However, the Korean giant hasn’t yet released a statement regarding the issue’s resolution, despite the fact that the issue surfaced after the last update, suggesting a software update-related problem. Hopefully, Samsung could release a proper update that will update it to the latest version.
Android 14
Google Get Inspired By Samsung; As It Copies Secure Folder Feature Housed In Galaxy Phones
Is Google following Samsung? With the Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2.1, it offers a new option for private space, which Samsung already offers with the title Secure Folder.
Google released Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 in November 2023, which introduced a feature called ‘Private Space’ already housed in Samsung devices as Secure Folder. Since reports have been around for several days that the latest iteration of Android 15 will be dedicated to more security and will bring tons of new features to enhance users’ secure experiences, one of the awaiting features is Private Space.
The upcoming Private Space feature will allow the user to install the application in a separate, locked profile, which they can hide at any time. Although this feature has been in the development phase for a long time, it has not yet gone live. Let’s take a closer look.
The new feature named ‘Lock private space automatically’ will allow users to configure the feature to automatically lock the protected space depending on one of the two sub-options they select in it, which are ‘Every time device lock’ and ‘After 5 minutes of inactivity.’ While choosing the first, the feature will lock Privact Space instantly after they lock the device.
But here’s the catchable fact: Secure Folder, available on Galaxy devices, already offers this feature, so somewhere it seems like Google got inspired by Samsung.
The reports are also saying that when users set up Private Space, the feature now recommends them to create a dedicated Google account for using it to’stop data appearing outside private space; for instance, ‘Synced photos, files, emails, contacts, calendar events, and other data,’ and many more. This suggestion and the option to automatically lock the protected space further enhance the privacy and security of private space.
Upcoming Private Space will offer a redesign setup flow to deliver a better idea of the feature. Since this feature initially appeared in Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 and then Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2.1, it is expected that Android 15 will bring this feature to enhance the secure experience.