Android 13 is now official: know the first details of the Developer Preview

We already know the first news of Android 13 , the next Google operating system. In addition, the release dates have been confirmed, the first compatible mobiles and it is even possible to download if we are interested.

Android 13 includes new monochrome icons , it will be better adapted to foldables, it will allow more private media sharing and adds various technical optimizations. Without forgetting that there are still news of the update to be revealed in the coming months.

Of course, we are facing Android 13 Developer Preview 1, a very early version for developers . Even those enthusiastic users should wait for Beta 1 which will arrive in April, not only because it is more stable, but also because the download and installation will be much easier.

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Android 13, news in design and privacy

Developer Preview 1 doesn’t yet have all the new features we’ll see in Android 13, but it does have some interesting improvements. Google continues to work to hide users’ personal data from app developers , and has evolved the visual design that it debuted in Android 12.

It is striking, since very few manufacturers are using the Material You interface apart from Google itself, which is not present in Xiaomi’s MIUI 13 or in other brands. Let’s see the main changes of Android 13:

monochrome icons for everyone

Android 12’s monochrome icons, exclusive to Google apps, can now be used by any developer on Android 13. Since they just have to add the new icon, they’re likely to be ported quickly.

Imagen - Android 13 Developer Preview: novedades y descarga

The monochrome icons have light mode and dark mode , in both cases they take the colors of the mobile wallpapers that we use at all times, following the Material You visual style.

More private photo picker

In Android 13 we will no longer need to give access to all the photos and videos of the system when we need to upload a specific one to the applications. We now have a file picker that only allows access to specific photos and videos , without the app seeing the rest of the storage.

Imagen - Android 13 Developer Preview: novedades y descarga

Apps will need to adapt to use this new system instead of the previous permissions, which give access to local and cloud files . In addition, Google is going to update mobile phones with Android 11 and higher so that they use a similar system.

Quick settings easier to configure

Quick settings above the notification bar are often used for tasks like turning on Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, silent mode, locking screen rotation, etc. But it is really possible to place frequent actions of the applications.

Imagen - Android 13 Developer Preview: novedades y descarga

In Android 13 this will be made easier, as apps can show us a window to add quick settings , a process that is otherwise a bit cumbersome, and many users don’t even know about it.

WiFi connections location

Android 13 overcomes an old issue where apps that needed to locate a Wi-Fi hotspot also needed the location permission. Now a new system is created that gives them less access, so that they establish the connection to the WiFi point without providing them with a precise geographical position.

Android 12L improvements for foldables

Google is working on Android 12L with optimizations for large folding and tablet screens , scheduled for the first half of 2022. In Android 13 we will also have this more flexible and adaptable interface.

Imagen - Android 13 Developer Preview: novedades y descarga

At the moment it has not been confirmed exactly what details will come to Android 13, but the above screenshot of version 12L gives us an idea of the objectives.

Other internal technical improvements include easier handling for app developers using multiple languages, and hyphenation optimization, a technique that makes text more readable when it needs to adapt to different screen sizes.

At the graphic level, a new RuntimeShader is included, which allows better graphic effects in applications. On the other hand, Android 13 is updated to OpenJDK 11, the version of Java 11 that makes the system work.

Android 13, compatible phones and download

The first Android 13 Developer Preview is limited to the last three generations of Google Pixel phones . Few users will be able to download the software at the moment, but it is not the company’s wish either.

These are the phones compatible with Android 13 Developer Preview 1:

  1. Pixel 4 / 4 XL / 4a / 4a (5G).
  2. Pixel 5 / 5a.
  3. Pixel 6 / 6 Pro.

The installation must be done manually by connecting the smartphone to a computer by cable . For most users it will be easier and safer to wait for Beta 1, where there will be an automatic update system.

Anyway, here are the official files to download Android 13:

  1. Download Android 13 Developer Preview

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Dates and betas of Android 13

The final release of Android 13 could arrive between August and September 2022 , as in previous years, although at the moment Google has not specified an exact date.

We do know that there will be two Developer Previews, the second will arrive in March, and then a total of 4 betas in April, May, June and July. In the April Beta 1 there will be more compatible mobiles that can try Android 13 from various brands, not only for developers, but also for enthusiastic users.

Imagen - Android 13 Developer Preview: novedades y descarga

Beta 3 in June 2022 will mark the so-called “platform stability”, new features will no longer be added to Android 13, and it will only continue to be polished for the final release. It would not be strange that when it is finished, the brand will release it in the future Google Pixel 7, although this is not confirmed for now.

It is likely that we will not see Android 13 on most phones until early 2023 , as manufacturers must adapt the software to their devices, and not all are as fast.

In summary, Android 13 seems like an interesting update that continues to evolve , at least in Developer Preview 1. It will be necessary to see if later test versions bring more news, or we are facing a version that will be limited to retouching some details when it is released for everyone. at the end of 2022.