Android phones, apps and tablets

The lack of instant pull down toggle is a bit annoying, wi-fi in the toilet at work is crap, but so is phone signal TBF. For all the networks you don't want it connecting to automatically, you can press settings whilst connected and turn off auto connection or go into saved networks to do so whilst you're not connected. Pull down menus are all rejiggable via pulling down twice and pressing the edit pen, which everyone probably knows but kinda sounds like maybe >>>>> didn't.

I'm already sick of the bubbles, they remind me of some bad design choices from the late 90s...

And how do you get the big vertical numbers clock on your lock screen? I can't get it to work for some reason...

sick of the bubbles

This like notification things instead of in the pull down? I've had them switched off for ages, WhatsApp and some other things have tried having them for a while.

Is this just a Samsung thing or is it in normal Android too? It basically means I never have to touch WiFi.

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I'm on a pixel 3, so was possible on standard Android 11 & 12, probably earlier too.

Go to wi-fi settings, saved networks, find the one you want, or don't want, turn off auto connection. If you need it at some point guessing your just go to WiFi settings and press it to connect.

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I have it at the top of the list when I drag down once but whereas with Android 11 it was a WiFi toggle, on Android 12 I have to hit the internet panel then disable WiFi on a second screen.

@Stonehedge it's not a battery life thing, more a data speed thing. I find that if the phone is trying to connect to WiFi out and about it's slower than just on 4G (pixel 4a).

Other people are annoyed too, they've worked out how to run a command to add the WiFi toggle back in addition to the Internet panel:

https://www.androidpolice.com/not-a-fan-of-android-12s-new-internet-panel-heres-how-to-get-back-your-old-wifi-toggle/

It really is a damning indictment if our broadband infrastructure that 4g is reliably faster now days.

Does your phone have the settings I screenshotted (screenshat?) earlier?

Nope no intelligent WiFi or the option to turn WiFi off automatically if it's slow. I do have the option switched on to connect to WiFi automatically so it will do this when I get home.

It's a little convoluted but

Settings > display > screen saver > select the Snowflake (?) at the right of Current screen saver > style > select digital

Snowflake

It's a cog innit.

It's a cog

I know it's supposed to represent a cog, but by the time it has been so reduced in detail, it no longer looks like any actual sprocket or pinion. Not sure why they didn't go with the 🔧 or 🛠, the latter seeming particularly apropos for Android 12 as people seem to be on the point of getting the hammer out to fix the things Google broke.

Can't you go to developer mode and enable aggressive data or whatever its called?

I jumped from a Pixel 2 to a Pixel 6 a couple of days ago. My mini review:

Man it's big. And I just looked up the dimensions - it's only 5mm shorter and 1 mm thinner than the pro. Hardly seems worth having the different form factors. It's heavier too, and very slippery, so using it in bed at night it perilous - it's going to take some getting used to.

The camera bump is annoying. I don't like using cases, but with the bump and the fact that it's a very slippery phone I think I'll have to relent and get one.

The screen seems oddly desaturated, like it has a slightly sepia cast to it, but I'm not sure if it's some theme, or an issue with the screen.

The fingerprint scanner in the screen is disappointing. It's now often a two step operation to unlock the phone (wake it, then fingerprint), whereas before it was a one step process. Plus, it's slower and less reliable than the one on the back of the Pixel 2. Yeah, very cool technology, but it's a big step back imho.

Bluetooth audio in the car is slightly glitchy. Hopefully that'll get fixed in an update.

The selfie-camera is a pile of shit.

As usual the main cameras are truly phenomenal, and apparently the video capabilities are a lot better but I haven't looked into that yet.

The "magic eraser" in photos is pretty cool although I'm not sure how much use I'll get out of it.

Coming from a Pixel 2 means I'm coming from Android 11, and over the last few days I've been impressed with all little the ways the OS has improved. In the car home listening to podcasts, I get a message on Signal, and it asks if I want it read out. I say "yes" (which the Pixel 2 would have asked me to repeat a few times) and it reads out the message surprisingly well.

It then says "by the way, if you want me to automatically read out your messages, blah, blah, blah..." - I'm genuinely impressed how, across the platform, Android is frequently and unobtrusively highlighting features and improvements. Also, the voice recognition seems to be excellent now, even in challenging environments.

Same upgrade here, I don't mind the bump, it's so far up the phone I never engage with it. The fingerprint scanner is 100% a disappointment, they may as well ask you to draw your fingerprint pattern in MS Paint.

Also I swear Google have developed a true frictionless material on the phone back, I laid my phone on a level surface after opening the box and it just started sliding.

The fingerprint scanner is 100% a disappointment

It's poor, far too slow. Real shame that there's no face unlock, Pixel 4 had it if I'm not mistaken? But I also think Pixel 4 didn't rely on just front facing camera and had some other bit of hardware for running secure face unlock, guess Google needed to cut costs somewhere.

Yeah, nah, already tried that! I've got the digital lock screen but it's got the time, date and weather quite small in the top left corner... It has popped up once or twice with the really big clock but I couldn't tell you how or why it's done that... I am still running Nova Launcher in the background, maybe that's affecting it... 🤷

Also I swear Google have developed a true frictionless material on the phone back, I laid my phone on a level surface after opening the box and it just started sliding.

Cases seem impossible to find. I've ordered the Google one - due in 2 weeks!

In the meantime I'm genuinely scared to get it out of my pocket. Took a family selfie yesterday, that was terrifying. But I do appreciate the double press to open camera again, especially for quick gloved shots out on the bike.

Things I don't like; Chromes top positioned address bar. Linked with the slippy design it's impossible to get to with out adjusting your grip vs Safaris bottom bar which is nice to use one handed.

Like the 4 X camera. Have a giraffe and zebra shot.
Controversial; Like the fingerprint scanner. Having been masked up over the last year face unlock has been a ball ache on the iPhone. Typing my passcode every single time I unlock my phone I'm the shops to access my shopping list... Urgh. Yes it's not the rear facing one of old (miss the swipe down notification gesture) but it'll do.
Like the bump. No more phone rocking on my desk as I furiously type. Yes!

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Chrome top URL tip: enable one handed mode.

Then you can swipe down to the bottom edge of the screen to make everything accessible with the thumb of the hand holding the phone.

I was confused by one handed mode to begin with, having initiated it accidentally, but now I love it. It works fine because it is super fast.

Even the aftermarket cases seem to be 2-3 weeks away, and screen protectors. I'm wfh so not too fussed for the moment.

I've never used face unlock. It just seems a solution looking for a problem. My phone is in my hand so use my hand to open the phone. But now the lack of speed on the sensor is frustrating me. We will see how flat on a desk opening and typing change my opinion Vs picking up the phone to unlock from the back. Maybe I should try voice to type more?

Double tap on the power button has always been a great idea. Losing the long press power off not so much.

One more week to apply for my headphones.

Also Three now do esim so I want to swap that over to get 5g in town.

I've actually found a workaround for now, totally accidentally!

Grouped tabs allow me to have the extra bottom bar as shown below and I have a + which opens me a new tab and the keyboard pops up. Yey!

Discovered as you say the power button isn't a power button anymore. For the normal function it's power + volume up quickly.

Headphones wise, I've already got Sony wh-1000xm2 which I like. I don't know whether to keep the offer Bose ones or sell and upgrade to the xm4. Either way having a USB C power port of them will be appreciated.

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For thumb print perhaps try what I've done on my samsung as it can be a bit hit or miss.
Add another print, but use the same thumb.
Obvs YMMV.

How do I stop my clock from being brown? I just want it to be black/gray like the calendar & Google search. I quite like the rest of the theming but the clock looks shit!

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Guessing in the wallpaper as part of the whole material you thing

Shouldn't you be studying?