The second developer preview of Android 14 is now available with modifications to certain photographs access
Google has launched Android 12 Developer Preview 2, which includes a variety of new features and enhancements. XDA Developers has offered a thorough breakdown of the adjustments made in the most recent preview release.
The Material You theming system, which enables users to alter the Interface in real time, is a significant new feature. The theming system, which is tightly interwoven into the operating system, can change its colour scheme to match the user’s wallpaper. A redesign of the widget’s appearance also includes new sizes and styles.
Improvements to the notification shade, which now classifies notifications depending on their content and offers more specific information at a glance, are among the other changes. New privacy options include the ability to deny an app access to the clipboard and new camera and microphone icons that display their use.
New APIs for app developers are also introduced in the Developer Preview 2, including one that allows for the creation of splash screens and another that supports haptic feedback. The preview also comes with a number of performance and bug fixes. Overall, the Android 12 Developer Preview 2 offers a variety of new features and enhancements for both consumers and developers, and it provides a promising preview of what will be included in the final version to be released later this year.
Google is incorporating site favicons into its desktop search results
The well-known “g” logo has been changed in Google’s desktop search engine’s favicon in favour of a brand-new, multicoloured “G” icon. The new favicon aims to establish a unified visual identity for all Google services and products while also highlighting the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Red, yellow, green, and blue are the four fundamental hues used in the new “G” icon, and they are ordered to convey both diversity and unity. Also, the icon is made to be more recognisable at smaller sizes, making it simpler to spot in cluttered bookmarks or browser tabs.
Users all over the world are currently receiving the upgrade gradually, and it is anticipated that it will be fully implemented during the ensuing weeks. While some users claim to have noticed the change, others have not yet noticed it on either the Google search results page or the Google homepage.
The new favicon represents Google’s continued attempts to update its visual identity and enhance the user experience across all of its products and services, even though it is a relatively small change. Additionally, it emphasises the business’ dedication to diversity and inclusion, a subject that has grown in significance in recent years in the tech sector.
OpenXLA is now accessible to speed up and streamline machine learning
OpenXLA is an open-source framework developed by Google with the intention of streamlining and accelerating the creation of machine learning (ML) models. Based on the XLA (Accelerated Linear Algebra) package from Google, OpenXLA offers a domain-specific compiler for tensor-based linear algebra operations.
With the help of well-known deep learning libraries like TensorFlow and PyTorch, developers can create and train machine learning models using the new framework’s high-level APIs. Automatic differentiation, a method for faster gradient computation and model training, is also supported by OpenXLA.
The flexibility of OpenXLA to optimise computations for many hardware platforms, such as CPUs, GPUs, and TPUs, is one of its main advantages. As a result, developers no longer need to worry about hardware-specific optimizations while writing code and can instead release it once to a number of devices.
Some Google teams are already using OpenXLA for internal ML projects, which is available on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 licence. By releasing the framework open source, the business intends to hasten the creation of new ML applications and make it simpler for developers to begin using machine learning.
Wing introduces a drone delivery network in the style of ridesharing
Wing, the drone delivery business owned by Alphabet (Google’s parent company), has introduced a new service that delivers products to consumers in a “rideshare-style” manner. By using the Wing app to contact a local participating merchant, users of the new Wing Connect service can request package pickup and delivery.
Wing Connect was created to make it simpler for individuals to swiftly and comfortably receive products without having to wait at home for a delivery. There are hopes to eventually expand the service to more markets, although it is now only accessible in a few areas of Australia and the US.
Customers only need to choose a participating merchant on the Wing app and then request a pickup and delivery to use Wing Connect. A Wing drone picks up the package and delivers it directly to the customer’s location, usually in a matter of minutes.
Wing has been testing drone delivery services for a number of years and has already begun conducting business in a number of international countries. The business has drones that can deliver a variety of supplies, including food, medication, and home items.
By making drone delivery services more available to a larger range of consumers, Wing’s new Wing Connect service represents a substantial expansion of the company’s capabilities and could hasten the adoption of these services.
Google Cloud’s approach to live service gaming is one big game
For its gaming platform, Google Cloud has unveiled a number of new tools and capabilities that are intended to make it easier for game creators to create and manage live-service games. A group of open-source gaming server examples, a real-time player segmentation tool, and a fresh iteration of Google Cloud Pub/Sub are among the new features.
The pre-built game server templates offered by the game server examples can be utilised as a jumping-off point when creating unique game servers. Developers can separate players using the real-time player segmentation tool depending on a variety of factors, including player behaviour, geographic location, and game progress.
Gaming-specific features including support for real-time data streaming and interaction with Google Cloud Functions for automated event processing are included in the new version of Google Cloud Pub/Sub.
A new certification programme for game creators is also being introduced by Google Cloud in addition to these new tools. This programme is intended to help game developers acquire the abilities and knowledge necessary to create and manage live-service games on the platform. In general, the new tools and features are meant to assist game developers in lowering costs, boosting scalability, and enhancing player experience for live-service games. Google Cloud’s efforts in this sector are expected to be welcomed by both developers and players given the gaming industry’s continued rapid growth.