Android 13 is coming. In fact, we expect the first Developer Preview to land next month. Before that, several possible features have surfaced, which offer a preview of what we can expect from the final version later this year.
Three things to note emerged: easier scanning of the QR code (via Android Police), Tap-to-Transfer media playback transfer (via Android Police) and a redesigned multimedia output selector (via Android Police). We’ll go over those features here in a bit.
It all comes from a “trusted source” in contact with Android Police. Keep in mind that all of these features are subject to change, evolve, or remove as Google works on them. This is how software development works.
Android 13: QR code scanning made easy
In this era of COVID-19, many restaurants have moved to online menus that you can access via a QR code. It’s a great idea, all in all, to turn what was once a nuisance into something useful.
With most phones, you launch your camera app and point it at the QR code. This usually gives you a prompt to tap that will take you where the code wants you to go. Google seems to want to improve this, based on the screenshots provided in the Android Police article.
The first screenshot above shows an option to “Allow access to QR scanner from lock screen”. It’s pretty self-explanatory, although we don’t know how it would work in practice. It could be some sort of shortcut to a QR scanner mode, or something even more transparent.
On a similar note, the second screenshot shows us a QR scanner shortcut thumbnail in quick settings. This could open a view of QR scanner mode in the camera app, providing a quick and painless way to scan the code. It is simply too early to tell.
If you have an iPhone and a HomePod mini, you can transfer media playback on your phone to the speakerphone by tapping on your phone. It’s a great way to send music to speakers in different rooms if you move between them.
Based on the information provided to Android Police, Android 13 could achieve something similar. Currently dubbed “Media TTT” – with the “TTT” standing for “Tap-to-Transfer” – this feature could allow phones to transfer media playback to another device.
It is not clear to Android Police how it will work and it is possible that Google still does not fully know how it will work. It is not known whether the source device communicates the transfer via NFC, UWB or other.
However, the screenshots obtained by Android Police show a chip notification at the top. The first says to get closer to the target device, the second says that the media is playing on the target device.
If it works the same as Apple, that could mean you’ll be able to stream music from what you have to a Chromecast or Nest speaker. But since we do not know the means of communication, Media TTT could require specialized equipment. I know I won’t be upgrading all of my Google Home / Nest speakers just for this feature.
The latest information about Android 13 obtained by Android Police is much less exciting. Put simply, Google is apparently testing a redesign of the media output selector. This is the menu that appears when you tap the exit text in the media playback notification. This is the part that tells you if the media is playing on your phone speaker, bluetooth headphones, Chromecast device, etc.
In the first screenshot, the one that shows the output switcher based on the play notification, you can see the rounded volume bar and the output device (“Not Airpods” in this case). But if you’re careful, the option to show picker first is missing from the notification shade.
The Android Police source claims that the button to bring up the selector is always there before the menu appears. Whether the disappearance is a bug or a redesign remains unknown. You can also invoke the output selector from sound settings, just below the main media volume control.
Android 13 perspectives
Android 13 is several months away, and we might not see the first beta until Google I / O in May. But we could get the first Developer Preview next month in February, assuming Android 12L hasn’t disrupted the development cycle.
While these three features are minor, it’s good to see that Google is considering at least improving some of the UI and UX elements for Android 13. We’ll hear all about the new I / O features. and when people start to dig. in developer previews.
Stay tuned for more information on Android 13 as we go.
