Android 13 leaks just tipped three major upgrades

Android 13 leaks simply tipped three major upgrades

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Android 13 is coming. In fact, we wait the first Developer Preview to land side by side month. In the pb up to it, several possible features have appeared, which offer a glimpse at what we can expect from the last release later this year.

Three things of note accept popped up: easier QR lawmaking scanning (via Android Constabulary), Tap-to-Transfer media playback handoff (via Android Police), and a revamped media output picker (via Android Police force). We'll go over these features here in a fleck.

All of this comes courtesy of a "trusted source" in contact with Android Police. Behave in mind that all of these features are subject to change, evolution, or removal as Google works on them. That'south how software evolution works.

Android thirteen: Streamlined QR code scanning

In this age of COVID-xix, many restaurants have moved to online menus which y'all can admission via a QR code. It's a pretty neat thought all things told, turning what used to be an annoyance into something useful.

With almost phones, you fire up your camera app and point information technology at the QR code. This usually offers up a prompt for y'all to tap that volition have you to wherever the code wants you to get. Google seems to desire to better upon that, based on the screenshots provided in Android Police'south article.

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android 13 qr scanner option — (Prototype credit: Android Police)

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android 13 qr scanner quick settings tile — (Paradigm credit: Android Police force)

The first screenshot above shows an selection for "Let access to QR scanner from lock screen." That's pretty cocky-explanatory, though we're not sure how it would work in practice. It could be a shortcut of sorts to a QR scanner mode, or something fifty-fifty more seamless.

On a similar notation, the second screenshot shows us a QR scanner shortcut tile in Quick Settings. This could open a view of the QR scanner mode in the camera app, offer a quick and painless style to scan the code. Information technology's simply also early to tell.

If yous have an iPhone and HomePod mini, you lot can mitt off media playing on your phone to the speaker by borer your phone to it. It's a slap-up fashion to pass music to speakers in unlike rooms if you're moving between them.

Based on data provided to Android Police, Android 13 might get something similar. Currently dubbed "Media TTT" — with the "TTT" standing for "Tap-to-Transfer" — this feature could permit phones to hand off media playback to some other device.

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android 13 media ttt — (Image credit: Android Law)

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How this will work remains unclear to Android Police force and information technology'southward possible that Google still doesn't fully yet know how it'due south going to piece of work. Whether the source device communicates the handoff via NFC, UWB, or something else isn't known.

However, the screenshots obtained by Android Police show a chip notification at the meridian. The showtime one says to motion closer to the target device, the second says that the media is playing on the target device.

If this functions similarly to Apple, so it could mean that you'll be able to pass music of what have you to a Chromecast or Nest speaker. But since we don't know the means of communication, Media TTT could crave specialized hardware. I know that I won't upgrade all of my Google Domicile/Nest speakers just for this feature.

The final bit of Android 13 info that Android Law obtained is much less heady. Simply put, Google is apparently testing a redesign for the media output picker. This is the card that appears when you tap the output text in the media playback notification. This is the part that tells you lot whether the media is playing on your phone's speaker, Bluetooth earbuds, Chromecast device, etc.

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android 13 output picker — (Image credit: Android Police)

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In the first screenshot, the ane that shows the output picker based on the playback notification, you tin can see the rounded volume bar and the output device ("Non Airpods" in this instance). But if you pay attention, the pick to bring up the picker in the outset place is missing from the notification shade.

Android Police'southward source affirms that the push to bring up the picker is still at that place before the carte appears. Whether the disappearance is a bug or a redesign remains unknown. Yous tin can too call upwards the output picker from the Audio settings, correct beneath the primary media volume control.

Android 13 outlook

Android 13 is many months away, and we may not run across the first beta until Google I/O in May. But nosotros could become the first Programmer Preview next month in February, assuming Android 12L hasn't messed with the development release cycle.

While all iii of these are minor features, it's proficient to come across that Google is at to the lowest degree because improving some of the UI and UX elements for Android 13. We'll hear all about the new features at I/O, and when people start digging into the Programmer Previews.

Stay tuned for more Android 13 news as it happens.

Jordan is the Phones Editor for Tom's Guide, roofing all things telephone-related. He's written nearly phones for over five years and plans to continue for a long while to come. He loves nothing more than than relaxing in his home with a book, game, or his latest personal writing project. Jordan likes finding new things to dive into, from books and games to new mechanical keyboard switches and fun keycap sets. Jordan tends to lurk on social media, but you tin best achieve him on Twitter.