Android 10 New Features

Among the main functions of the new system, is the long-awaited dark mode, which leaves the device's interface based on black and gray colors, in order to avoid eye strain and save battery power on devices with OLED screens and the like. In addition, new features that aim to increase user privacy are also highlighted in the new version.

(Image Credit: Christian Wiediger on Unsplash)

Here are some of the biggest features included in Android 10.

Dark Mode

One of the main highlights of Android 10 is the presence of the so-called dark mode. In practice, the feature allows changing the base of the system's colors to black and dark gray, leaving the screen less luminous and saving the user's vision. On devices with an OLED display, whose technology produces even less light in dark areas, the nighttime theme should still save energy.

Focus Mode

Focus Mode is only about silencing specific apps. When Focus Mode is activated, applications cannot be used and therefore their notifications do not arrive. If an application is disabled, the icon will appear in gray, with the idea of ​​making the screen less attractive; that is, less susceptible to distraction.

Here's how it to turn on it:

To enable the new Focus Mode, you must have the Digital Wellbeing app. Go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing and parental controls > Ways to Disconnect.

You’ll see three options - tap on each to set it up: Dashboard (set timers for specific apps); Wind Down (use Night Light to tint the screen for dim lighting and turn on Do Not Disturb); Focus Mode (pause apps such as Facebook or Instagram so that you can literally focus on and not get distracted).

Live Caption

This feature allows you to experience video without having to unmute your device. Even more important, Live Captions allow the hearing impaired to enjoy any video displayed from any source. That alone makes this feature incredibly important to the Android landscape.

New gestures

The back button, a classic navigation feature in Android, has been ditched in Android 10. Alternatively, the update includes a full set of gestures so that Android users can move beyond buttons, virtual or otherwise. So, instead of the three icons at the bottom of your screen, you will see a black strip with a white dash in the centre.

After updating your phone to Android 10, the new gestures aren't turned on by default. Instead, you need to make your way into the settings and manually enable them.

Doing so is very simple:

Open the Settings on your phone.

1. Scroll down and tap System.
2. Tap Gestures.
3. Tap System navigation.
4. Tap Gesture navigation.

You can change the navigation method at any time you want and as many times as you'd like.

Location Permissions

You can set permissions so that an app can only track your location while it is in use. To find which of your apps have permission to track your location, and to change that, follow these steps:

Go to Settings

Go to Apps and notifications > Permission manager > Location

You’ll get a list of all the apps that have permission to track your phone’s location. Tap on each ond to change its permission to “Allow all the time”, “Allow only while using the app”, or “Deny".

Notification controls

You get more notification control options. When you swipe away a notification, you'll be able to either mark notifications from that app as "silent" (to stop them) or "alert" (so you get a ping). If you don't like either, you can press the "turn off notifications" option.

Bubbles

Bubbles are built into the Notification system. They float on top of other app content and follow the user wherever they go. Bubbles can be expanded to reveal app functionality and information, and can be collapsed when not being used.

When the device is locked or the always-on-display is active, bubbles appear just as a notification normally would.

Bubbles are an opt-out feature. When an app presents its first bubble, a permission dialog is shown that offers two choices:

Block all bubbles from your app - notifications are not blocked, but they will never appear as bubbles
Allow all bubbles from your app - all notifications sent with BubbleMetaData will appear as bubbles

How to get Android 10

Open Settings on your phone;

Go to System > Advanced > System update.

If the Android 10 update is available for your phone, it will appear and take some minutes to install.