Top 10 Features of Android 11
Staff Writer / 26-10-2020 / Tech news android
Fact: Android powered smartphones are the most popular mobile devices in the world, including here in South Africa. So, if you’ve recently updated your software to the latest Android 11, here’s the top 10 features you need to know about:
1. Your conversations, categorised
Android 11 brings more control over your chat notifications by storing all your messages in its own category known as Conversations Alerting. You can also prioritise certain conversations over ones that are less important to you, making sure you never miss anything urgent.
2. Bring on the bubbles
Chat heads are popular on platforms such as Facebook Messenger, but now Google has taken this idea to Android 11 and integrated it into a new update known as Bubbles. This enables your messages to float around your screen for quick and easy access. You can even place these messages anywhere on your screen or delete them by pulling it down.
3. A new recording ability
Before, recording your phone's screen meant downloading a third-party app. But now Android 11 has its own native screen recorder with audio that can be recorded via the microphone or through an audio device.
4. Music Player has its own home
When playing music, the Music Player now has its own designated place in the Quick Settings menu. This means it is no longer part of the notifications bar. You even have the option to choose a specific device to play music from, such as your Bluetooth speakers or earbuds.
5. A win for privacy
Google has clamped down on privacy and security, giving users more control over one-time permissions. You can now grant apps permission for the session in use and once the app is closed, Android will revoke that permission. If an app is inactive for a while, permissions can get automatically revoked.
6. Forget me not notifications
Mistakenly swiping away notifications happens to the best of us, and often, it’s not a onetime occurrence. Now, saying goodbye to notifications before even seeing them is a thing of the past. Android 11 allows you to save all your notifications over the past 24 hours. A running list will help you find a notification you lost, making sure you never lose it again.
7. Do as I say
Voice Access on Android 11 comes with a better understanding of your commands and the context around it. Using the power of Google Assistant, all you have to do is say the action you want done and your phone will understand and do it for you.
8. More power to the Power Menu
The Power Menu has received a major tech upgrade. You can control various smart home devices without having to open an app, such as turning lights on and off and checking security cameras.
9. Your Android has your back
If you have a Pixel device, Google AI will choose the top five suggested apps it thinks should be in your dock based on your workflow, location and surroundings. This list generates the most relevant apps just before you need it.
10. Come over to the dark side
Although the native dark theme mode was introduced in Android 10, it was nonintuitive. Now, with Android 11, you can schedule the dark theme according to a time that suits you, or, you can choose to never switch it off since it comes with battery saving superpowers.
