Google is rolling out the stable version of its latest
generation of Android on Pixel devices starting today. The Android 12 has
brought newer and better customization features, new visual identity and a lot
more. Google’s new redesign Material You will roll out on all devices that run
on Android 12. This will bring fresh design changes to Google’s Workspace apps,
including Gmail, Calendar, Meet, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
Now, if you are wondering whether your device will get the
Android 12 update. We have compiled a list of all smartphones that will get the
Android 12 update natively. This list features devices that are confirmed to
get the update as well as those that are expected to get the updates.
While all of this looks great, Google wants you to believe
that it’s not just all about design. To convince users for this, Google has
rolled out a Privacy Dashboard to users, which really just puts all the privacy
features and permissions under one umbrella. Under this dashboard, you can now
get a microscopic and graphical view of which app is using what features on
your phone, along with a ‘manage permissions’ shortcut that directly gives you
access to feature-wise permissions – something that you find at the bottom of
app permissions right now. Similar to Apple bringing the App Tracking
Transparency feature for iPhone users earlier this year, Google’s Android 12
will also offer a similar feature to Android users with Android 12. According
to an Android 12 support page from Google, users will be able to opt out of
targeted or personalised ads by deleting an Advertising ID that allows works as
an identifier to allow advertisers to track users’ movements online.
Android 12 will also show tiny icons at the top right corner
to notify you which app is using your camera and/or microphone, in a bid to
make you more aware of what apps might be sneakily activate certain permissions.
This feature was rolled out by Apple with iOS 14 last year. However, Google has
remained silent on anything that it may plan to do towards stopping apps that
track your activities and serve ads – the way Apple has with app privacy
permissions. It did, however, touch upon the Android Private Compute Core,
which promises to do a lot of tasks such as live captioning and sensitive
Google speech translate data within a walled off area locally in devices –
without giving it any network access. It is a privacy positive move, but still
one that somewhat skirts the bigger question.

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