Currently there are 2 strong operating system options for Smartphones, those running Android (or some system based on it) or iOS, so the race between the two has intensified lately; Last Monday, August 15, the latest BETA version of the operating system developed by Google was launched: Android 13.
Android 13 does not have major changes with respect to Android 12, the truth is that it has customization features that could be considered as striking by demanding users, as well as some that will surely improve the experience in the system for people who use it casually.
What’s new for Android 13?
Among the main novelties, the design and harmonization stand out, as in the case of Material Ypu, which allows you to customize icons of third-party applications with the aim of matching the colors of the wallpaper.
As had been anticipated in some beta versions, now the applications can be configured specifically to show some required language, for example, the user can decide that WhatsApp is shown in Spanish, but that Facebook is in English and Twitter in French, this was not previously possible and only showed a general language for the entire phone.
Also, something that also improved was the media player, since now the new one promises to adapt the appearance according to the cover that is being listened to, regardless of whether it is a podcast or music.
Continuing with the multimedia theme, Android 13 will have the ability to play spatial audio, for them special headphones will be needed that have the feature that allows to activate a head tracking that generates some immersion in the content that is heard.
On the other hand, it was also confirmed that privacy is something that was again a central point in this update, since now new controls have been incorporated so that in the applications it is decided whether to allow access to the entire gallery of photos and videos of the phone or only to some specific material. In addition, there is a new feature in Android 13 that aims to delete information that was pasted on the clipboard after a while, this only when it comes to some password or email address, which could be considered as «sensitive information».
Another change in privacy is the fact that now all new applications that are downloaded must ask permission to send notifications, which means a change compared to previous versions in which, if a new tool was installed, by default it was allowed to send notifications. This changes with Android 13 by offering greater control to the user.
For the owners of a Chromebook, the new version of Google’s mobile software will allow a greater connection with it, since messaging applications such as WhatsApp or Telegram can be issued directly, making it possible to answer messages without the need to have the phone at hand.
A QR code scanner was also incorporated from the quick settings, so it is now extremely easy to access this function, which by the way, was already used in some layers of customization.
Will my phone be compatible with Android 13?
Although there is no list as such with the cell phones that Android 13 will reach, as usual, the first to obtain access to the beta versions were the Google models, the Pixel, which since last August 15 have the ability to be updated.
In the case of the other best-selling brands globally, such as Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Vivo, Asus or Nokia, BETA updates to Android 13 will be possible gradually.
Until the close of this article, in the case of Xiaomi, MIUI 13 based on Android 13 had already been released in its beta phase for Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 12 Pro in addition to which a list of about 15 more models that would possibly have an update has been leaked.
Oppo has already presented its new system based on Android 13, which is called ColorOS 13, Samsung launched a beta version and Motorola also confirmed 10 models that will have the new system, among which the versions of Edge launched in 2022 stand out.
From the developer preview to the final version.
The path that Google has traveled for the launch of Android 13 already has a few months, since in February and March advances were made for developers, while the beta phase launches began in April, continued in May and by June, the stability of the platform was already expected, according to Google. In July the final steps were taken and although it was expected that the update would see the light in September, the truth is that it arrived ahead of time, in the second half of August.
Prior to the launch, the last update that was officially had was the launch of beta 4.1 by Google, made on July 25 and which included only four bug fixes compared to its previous version, Android 13 Beta 4, which was released for those enrolled in tests on July 14, 2022
It should be remembered that in previous years Google had waited a little longer to reveal the operating systems, as in the case of Android 12 that arrived at its first cell phones in October 2021, as well as Android 11 that was released in September 2020.
Extra: the easteregg of Android 13.
For years Google has used to put an easteragg or Easter egg in its operating systems, which have included from just one image to even games or special animations, so in Android 13 there will be no exception and it has already been announced how this curiosity will be.
The first time something of this was known was in the Android 13 Beta 3.3 version where an option was included that shows a clock in the first instance and in which, you can move the hands. To unveil the trick, you must adjust the time at 13 (which is equivalent to 1) and with it several emojis will begin to appear on the screen.
