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Android 12 Beta: Everything you need to know

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Android’s redesign over the years, while helpful, hasn’t been too striking. Ever since the implementation of Material Design, Google’s mobile OS has largely looked the same. That changes with Android 12 Beta.

With Android 12, Google has revamped everything from the overall experience, colors, shapes, lights, and motion.

Material You

Google’s approach to Android 12 is to make sure it’s designed for you, for us, the users. In that vein, they’re calling this new design language Material You. This means a deeper integration of hardware and software.

In a separate media session, a Google representative pointed out that when Material Design first came out, Google wasn’t making their own hardware yet. That has since changed, and Material You is their answer to a more harmonious hardware and software.

Custom Color Palette

A Pixel-only feature, Custom Color Palette lets users completely personalize Android 12 with their color of choice along with redesigned widgets.

Based on your wallpaper, it will use color extraction to identify which colors are dominant, which are complimentary and will then apply these colors throughout the entire OS. That’s everything from the widgets, notification shade, lock screen, and more.

Redesigned System Spaces

This is perhaps one of the most different-looking aspects of Android 12 Beta. Instead of tiny icons, the Quick Settings area now provides more information on each setting. This makes it easier for the user to control pretty much the primary settings of the entire OS by just swiping and tapping.

The Google Pay and Home controls have also been added to Quick Settings for faster access and easier customization.

These also sit nicely with your notifications that also look extra clean and is very much in line with the look of the Quick Settings.

Private and Secure

While we’re in Quick Settings, a new addition gives you access to the Privacy Dashboard. Here you can toggle permissions like mic and camera usage per app. Google says this is almost akin to physically covering the cameras on your phone.

The Privacy Dashboard also gives you granular control as to what data is being accessed and tracked. If you don’t want an app track a certain thing, you can easily revoke the permission from this dashboard.

Location tracking is also even deeper now as you get to choose whether you share your precise location or just your general one. Or perhaps not at all. The idea is that you have full control.

Google is also introducing Android Private Compute Core to Android 12. They say it helps them show features that are private by design while keeping the users’ personal information safe, private, and local to the phone.

Fluid Motions and Animations

Naturally, with any OS update, comes the promises of better and smoother overall animation. Google says Android 12 will feel alive with every tap, swipe, and scroll. Performance improvements include reducing the CPU time needed for core system services by up to 22% and reducing the use of big cores by the system server by up to 15%.

Compatible Devices

As of writing these are the devices that we know will be compatible with Android 12 Beta:

  • All Google Pixel phones
  • ASUS Zenfone 8
  • OPPO Find X3 Pro
  • OnePlus 9
  • OnePlus 9 Pro
  • realme (devices not yet specified)
  • Sharp (devices not yet specified)
  • Nokia X20
  • Xiaomi Mi 11
  • Xiaomi Mi Ultra
  • Mi 11i/ Mi 11XPro
  • iQOO 7 Legend
  • TCL 20 Pro 5G
  • Tecno Camon 17
  • ZTE Axon 30 Ultra 5G (China only)

Interested testers can download the firmware here.

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Logitech introduces a dedicated shortcut for ChatGPT

Compatible with most keyboards and mice

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April 19, 2024

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Artificial intelligence is already meant to simplify a workflow. However, despite the ease, there are still a few ways to optimize the process. Today, Logitech has launched a new shortcut to launch ChatGPT straight from your mouse or keyboard.

Minus programmable hotkeys or buttons, there are hardly any built-in way to easily access an AI model. For a typical workflow, it still consists of manually opening the model on a separate window and keeping it within cursor’s reach throughout the day.

Logitech is simplifying the process by adding a dedicated shortcut for its devices. With a Logitech keyboard or mouse supported by the Logi Options+ app, users can program a keyboard or mouse button for the new Logi AI Prompt Builder.

Once activated, the AI Prompt Builder automatically accesses easy options for highlighted text. For example, users can easily rephrase or summarize the text. Likewise, they can input their own custom queries. By eliminating a few clicks and some typing throughout the day, the new tool hopes to save you time.

While most Logitech keyboards and mice are compatible with the new tool, it is also more easily accessible with the new Logitech Signature AI Edition Mouse. The new mouse has a dedicated button just for AI prompts. If you’re an AI power user, this one is perfect for you.

SEE ALSO: Logitech unveils G Pro X 60 gaming keyboard: Price, details

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X’s AI accused Klay Thompson of vandalizing houses with bricks

AI thought joke posts were real

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April 18, 2024

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Image source: Keith Allison, Wikimedia

Despite the ease that the technology promises, artificial intelligence still isn’t the most reliable thing you can depend on. Today’s models can still flub answers. Now, the pitfalls of AI are abundantly clear with a few mishaps on X. Golden State Warrior Klay Thompson was just “accused” of a vandalism spree involving bricks.

Late Tuesday night, X presented an AI-generated news snippet. The article, posted soon after the Warriors’ play-in loss to the Sacramento Kings, reads: “Klay Thompson Accused in Bizarre Brick-Vandalism Spree.”

The snippet hilariously described an incident where Thompson supposedly vandalized houses in Sacramento with bricks. Thankfully, according to the snippet, no one was hurt. It even had a few sources for its claims below the news summary.

The sources, however, are just joke posts stemming from the recently concluded game. In that do-or-die game, Thompson put up a staggering 0 points on ten shot attempts, the most misses without a make by a Warrior since the ’68 season. Naturally, everyone joked that the Warriors guard just threw bricks all over Sacramento.

Now, X is currently experimenting with a new AI feature called Grok. The model collates trending topics and creates snippets of what’s happening for X users. However, it’s not exactly the smartest in determining real news from satiric ones. The feature notes as much, carrying a fine-print caveat warning users to “verify its outputs” because it’s an early feature and can make mistakes.

SEE ALSO: New X users must pay a dollar per year to post and reply

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New X users must pay a dollar per year to post and reply

Rolling out globally now

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April 16, 2024

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New users on X might soon face a tough time on the platform. The social media website will likely start charging new accounts a small fee for the right to post on the platform.

Now, the fee isn’t a new one. Almost six months ago, the company tested the paid system in New Zealand and the Philippines. New users in those countries had to pay a dollar per year for the ability to post and reply to content.

As spotted by X Daily News on the same platform, the company might be ready to take the experiment to a larger market. New text strings have shown that the policy is rolling out worldwide.

The policy is designed to combat a wave of bots appearing on the platform. By preventing new accounts from creating posts, X hopes to stave off the standard behavior of bots these days. You might have noticed them as OnlyFans creators in unrelated posts, peddling NSFW content on their bio.

Though the global rollout was only just spotted, owner Elon Musk has seemingly confirmed the change. Replying to X Daily News, Musk says that it is “the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots.” He says that the current breed of bots can easily bypass simple checks these days.

SEE ALSO: X will no longer let you hide your blue checkmark

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