There are 2.5 billion Android users worldwide. In virtually all markets, Android is the most popular mobile operating system. Why?
Because whether you use a $100 phone that’s six years old or the latest and priciest Samsung flagship, the operating system is robust and flexible enough to do just about anything.
So, when an Android release rolls out, it’s a pretty big deal. Expectations are high, and usually, Google doesn’t disappoint.
While this year has seen its share of ups and downs, including a delayed-release, Google has finally made public two different betas. This means we can safely expect Android 11 to arrive within the next few months.
In the meantime, here are a few of the upcoming improvements for you to look forward to.
1. More Restrictions on Location Data
This may not seem like the flashiest update, but this is a major win for Android users. Android 11 requires developers and users alike actually to do a little more work in allowing location data.
Why is this a good thing? Rather than app tracking what you do all the time in the background, you can fine-tune these settings, including allowing the use of a resource for just one time. This means two things. First, you’re less likely to forget about apps tracking you in the background. Second, developers will have to work harder to build services that require this intrusion on your privacy.
2. Airplane Mode Doesn’t Disable Bluetooth.
Anybody who has a wearable or uses wireless headphones will find this a major improvement. In the past, turning on airplane mode would disable Bluetooth. This only did not turn off the music but resulted in having to turn back on Bluetooth and sometimes manually reconnecting headphones. This feature alone makes the upgrade worth it for us!
3. Muting Notifications During Video Shooting
Isn’t it frustrating when you’re filming some precious moment only to get a barrage of notifications? With Android 11, you’ll be able to mute all notifications while recording, so you never miss a beat.
4. New Technology Support
We’re on the edge of so many different new technologies. From 5G to foldable displays and reverse wireless charging to new image formats and even neural network APIs, Google is designing this version of Android to do it all truly.
5. Context Aware Dark Mode
Android 10 introduced us to the amazing system-wide dark mode. With Android 11, your phone will automatically activate or deactivate it according to the time of day. While some manufacturers like Samsung have already integrated this, it’s nice that this will roll out across all makes and models.
6. No More Frustrating Permission Popups
If an app requests permission to something you don’t want it to access, you can deny it. Unfortunately, this can repeatedly happen with certain problem apps. In Android 11, after denying this request twice, the OS will read this as “Don’t Ask Again.” It will automatically ignore all future requests unless you manually change permissions in Settings.
7. GPS Privacy
Android 11 marks the introduction of the GnssAntennaInfo class GPS. This dual-frequency protocol can track you accurately within a few centimeters of where you are. As helpful as this is, it doesn’t present a major privacy risk.
Android 11 has made it so the antenna can only identify the device manufacturer, not the specific device. Also, fewer apps will have access to this data, thanks to the improvements described above.
An Amazing Array of New Android Updates
This is the beginning of all the fantastic things you’ll be able to do with Android 11. From increased touch sensitivity to better biometrics, there’s just so much to get excited about.
Nonetheless, while Google has made some significant privacy and security enhancements with this latest Android release, you’ll need additional tools to keep you and your data safe.
Of these, the most important is the VPN. What is a VPN? A VPN or virtual private network both masks your IP address and encrypts your internet connection. This is the easiest and most effective way to increase your privacy and security, not just on your Android smartphone, but on any internet-enabled device. Click here for more information: https://nordvpn.com/what-is-a-vpn/
In addition, look into additional apps like password managers, anti-malware, and other tools you can use to keep yourself safe. There’s no reason to wait until you update. All of these things are what you should be using regardless of what version of Android you have.
Don’t wait any longer and get started adding them into your daily phone use now!
