Android 12

Android 12 is the twelfth major release and 19th version of Android, the mobile operating
system developed by the Open Handset Alliance led by Google.[4] The first beta was released
on May 18, 2021. Android 12 was released publicly on October 4, 2021, through Android Open
Source Project (AOSP) and was released to supported Google Pixel devices on October 19,
2021.[5][1][6]
 Android 12

Version of the Android operating system

Screenshot

Developer Google

OS family Android

General October 4, 2021[1]

availability

Latest release 12.0.0_r56

(SSV1.210916.085)[2]
/ February 5, 2024

Kernel type Monolithic (Linux)

Preceded by Android 11

Succeeded by Android 13
 Official website www.android.com
/android-12/ (https://
www.android.com/an
droid-12/)

Support status

Supported[3]

As of November 2023, Android 12 is the 2nd most widely-used version of Android, with 18%
market share (slightly ahead of Android 11, but far behind of Android 13),[7] with 682 million
devices. The first phones to have Android 12 were the Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro.

History

Android 12 logo for

Developer preview
and Beta release

Android 12 (internally codenamed Snow Cone)[8] was announced in an Android blog posted
on February 18, 2021.[9] A developer preview was released immediately,[10][11] with two
additional ones planned the following two months. After that, four monthly beta releases
were planned, beginning in May, the last one of them reaching platform stability in August,
with general availability coming shortly after that.[12]
The second developer preview was released on March 17, 2021,[13] followed by a third
preview on April 21.[14] The first beta build was then released on May 18, 2021.[5] It was
followed by beta 2 on June 9,[15] which got a bug-fix update to 2.1 on June 23.[16] The third
beta was released on July 14,[17] getting a bug-fix update to 3.1 on July 26.[18] Beta 4 was
released on August 11, 2021.[19] A fifth beta, not planned in the original roadmap, was
released on September 8, 2021.[20] Android 12's stable version was released on the Android
Open Source Project on October 4 before getting its public over-the-air rollout on October 19,
coinciding with the launch event for the Pixel 6.[1][21]

Android 12.1/12L
In October 2021, Google announced Android 12L, an interim release of Android 12 including
improvements specific for foldable phones, tablets, desktop-sized screens[22] and
Chromebooks, and modifications to the user interface to tailor it to larger screens. It was
planned to launch in early 2022.[23][24] Developer Preview 1 of Android 12L was released in
October 2021, followed by Beta 1 in December 2021, Beta 2 in January 2022, and Beta 3 in
February 2022.[25] The stable version of Android 12L was released for devices with large
screens on March 7, 2022, and was released as "Android 12.1" for Pixel smartphones on the
same date, besides the Pixel 6 & Pixel 6 Pro.[26]

Features

User interface
Android 12 introduces a major refresh to the operating system's Material Design language
branded as "Material You", which features larger buttons, increased use of animation, and a
new style for home screen widgets. A feature, internally codenamed "monet",[27] allows the
operating system to automatically generate a color theme for system menus and supported
apps using the colors of the user's wallpaper.[28][29]

The smart home and Wallet areas added to the power menu on Android 11 have been
relocated to the notification shade, while Google Assistant is now activated by holding the
power button.[28] Android 12 features native support for taking scrolling screenshots.[28][30]
The screen magnifier feature now allows partial magnification via a floating window, and can
also be configured to follow text inputs.[31][32]

Platform
Performance improvements have been made to system services such as the window and
package managers.[28][30] The Android Runtime has been added to Project Mainline, allowing
it to be serviced via Play Store.[30]

Android 12 adds support for spatial audio, and MPEG-H 3D Audio, and supports transcoding
of HEVC video for backwards compatibility with apps which do not support it.[30] A new API
known as HapticGenerator allows the OS to generate haptic feedback from audio on
compatible devices.[33]

A "rich content insertion" API eases the ability to transfer formatted text and media between
apps, such as via the clipboard.[30] Third party app stores now have the ability to update apps
without constantly asking the user for permission.[34]

Privacy
OS-level machine learning functions are sandboxed within the "Android Private Compute
Core", which is expressly prohibited from accessing networks.[28]

Apps requesting location data can now be restricted to having access only to "approximate"
location data rather than "precise".[28] Controls to prevent apps from using the camera and
microphone system-wide have been added to the quick settings toggles. An indicator will
also be displayed on-screen if they are active.[28]

References

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External links

Media related to Android 12 at

Wikimedia Commons
Official website (https://www.android.c
om/android-12/)
 Video: 60+ changes in Android 12 (http
s://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L435U
F0M6NI)

Portal: Internet

Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Android_12&oldid=1204023898"

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