Android
New Android 16 Beta 1 update for Pixel phones

Today, Google released the first beta version of Android 16 for Pixel phones. This update is available for anyone who joins the Android Beta Program.
Android 16 Beta 1 brings a new feature called Live Updates. These are special notifications that make it easier for you to keep track of things like your ride-share, food delivery, or when you’re navigating. They use a new style called ProgressStyle, which shows how far along you are in these activities with custom icons for start, end, and current status.
Google is also making changes so that apps work better on bigger screens. Starting with this version, apps will automatically adjust their size on screens wider than 600dp if they target API level 36. This means apps will look good whether your screen is vertical or horizontal. Developers can choose not to do this for now, but by 2026, all apps will need to do this.
Another big update is support for the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec. This helps in recording and editing videos with very high quality, up to 2K, 4K, or even 8K resolution, without losing much detail. It’s designed for professionals who need the best video quality.
There’s also a new way to measure how far apart devices are using different technologies like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, which can be useful for apps that need to know distances.
Android 16 improves how apps handle going back. Now, if you press and hold the back button, you’ll see a preview of the previous screen, helping you navigate better. This works all over the system where going back is an option.
For developers, there are new tools to make apps work better in low light, write text vertically, and make form inputs clearer for accessibility.
If you want to give feedback on this beta, you can use the Android Beta Feedback app on your Pixel device or join discussions on Reddit.
To get this update, if you’re already in the Android Beta Program or using Developer Preview 2, you’ll get it automatically. But if you’re on Android 15 QPR2 Beta and want to keep it stable, you should wait for the final release of QPR2 instead of updating to Android 16 Beta 1.
This beta version, tagged as BP22.250103.008, includes a January 2025 security update and supports all Pixel models from the Pixel 6 series up to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, along with the Android Emulator.
- Pixel 9 Pro Fold: BP22.250103.008 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 9 Pro XL: BP22.250103.008 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 9 Pro: BP22.250103.008 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 9: BP22.250103.008 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 8a: BP22.250103.008 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 8 Pro: BP22.250103.008 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 8: BP22.250103.008 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel Fold: BP22.250103.008 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel Tablet: BP22.250103.008 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 7a: BP22.250103.008 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 7 Pro: BP22.250103.008 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 7: BP22.250103.008 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 6a: BP22.250103.008 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 6 Pro: BP22.250103.008 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 6: BP22.250103.008 — Factory Image — OTA
Android
Android might soon alert you when your time zone changes

Traveling with an Android phone can be confusing when it comes to keeping track of time, especially on long trips. Your device automatically adjusts to different time zones, which is handy but can sometimes leave you unsure about the actual time. Imagine being on an airplane, where the time might switch several times due to the flight’s Wi-Fi, making it difficult to know how long you’ve been in the air.
To solve this, Google seems to be working on a new feature for Android. According to Android Authority, who took a peek at the Android 16 Beta 1, there’s a new setting in the works. This setting would allow you to get a notification every time your device changes its time zone automatically.
You’ll find this new option under the “Settings” menu, specifically in “System” and then “Date & time.” By turning this on, you’d get a little alert on your phone saying, “Hey, you’ve just entered a new time zone!” This would help you keep better track of time without any surprises.
There isn’t a confirmed release date yet for this feature, but it looks like it might make its way into Android 16. This update could make traveling a bit less confusing when it comes to managing your schedule across different parts of the world.
Android
Android 16 might alert you when your time zone shifts

One of the key roles of your smartphone is to keep track of time, and they do this job pretty well. By using information from your phone’s network, Wi-Fi, or GPS, your device can automatically adjust its time when you move to a different time zone. However, sometimes you might want to know right away when this happens, which is why Google is working on a new alert feature for Android 16.
While exploring the first beta version of Android 16, I stumbled upon some lines of code for a new “time zone change” option in the settings under System > Date & time. This feature is designed to notify you when your phone’s time zone gets updated automatically.
I managed to activate this setting in the beta. Here’s what it looks like:
I couldn’t show you the actual notification since I haven’t traveled out of my current time zone, but I know what it will look like. The notification will simply state that “your time zone changed” followed by details of your new time zone.
This is a simple yet useful addition because knowing when and how your time zone has changed can help you schedule meetings or make plans. It also saves you from having to check the settings manually when you need to adjust the time for apps like Outlook.
Handling time zones is not easy, but thanks to Google Play System Updates, Android phones can quickly adapt to new time zone data from the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). With the various ways Android devices locate themselves, they are among the best for keeping the right time.
Though I found this feature in the Android 16 Beta 1, it’s not certain if it will make it into the final version. Features can appear in early builds but not in the official release. Given that Android 16 is expected to roll out in the second quarter of this year, we’ll know soon if this time zone notification feature will be part of it.
Android
New Feature: See through Live Captions on Android

Since the introduction of Expressive Captions last December, Android’s Live Caption feature now includes an option to adjust the background transparency on Pixel devices.
Before this update, captions appeared on a solid light or dark gray background, which could sometimes block parts of the screen. Now, with the new transparency setting, you can see what’s happening behind the captions. This makes the captions less intrusive and more user-friendly, allowing you to keep them on all the time if you wish. Some users even prefer having no background at all, just the text floating over the video.
How to Use Background Transparency
To turn on this feature, simply tap on the Live Caption panel to bring up the options menu. Look for the three dots on the right side, tap on them, and go to “Customization.” There, you’ll see the “Background transparency” switch alongside other settings like “Translate captions” and “Live Caption.”
This update was noticed today with the release of version V.16 of Android System Intelligence for Pixel devices. Check the Google Play Store to see if an update is available for your device. However, this feature isn’t available yet for Android 14 on non-Google devices.
This follows the earlier update in December that brought Expressive Captions to life, adding more emotion through uppercase letters for emphasis, sounds like sighs or gasps, and background noises like applause. This is currently available for US English on Android 14 and newer versions.
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