Google releases new Android software after announcing its new hardware

It wasn’t just new hardware that Google introduced today with the introduction of the Pixel 10 series. The company also released some software as it pushed out Android 16 QPR2 Beta 1. This is the first Beta release for the Quarterly Platform Release (aka Pixel Feature Drop) that is expected to be dropped by Google in December. The Android 16 QPR1 Beta release cycle concluded with the Beta 3.1 update that Google pushed out five days ago. The Android 16 QPR1 release is expected to take place sometime in September. 

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The biggest change so far in Android 16 QPR2 Beta 1 are the new buttons for themed icons found in the Wallpaper & style page that you can access by tapping the Settings button on your Pixel. After you get to the Wallpaper & style page, tap on the Home screen option and then on Icons. After installing the new Beta release, you’ll find three options under Icons:

• Default-keeps the icons in the default theme that you are probably used to seeing.
• Minimal-this draws the main color theme from your wallpaper and uses it to create a new theme for your icons.
• Create-while this button doesn’t do anything at the moment, it is the most intriguing because it suggests that users will be able to create custom icons in the future. Pressing this button now brings up a little notification that says, “App isn’t installed.”

By the way, if you were thinking about leaving the Beta program and receiving the stable version of QPR1 without having to wipe your device, you can do it by opting out of the QPR Beta program before you install QPR2 Beta 1.

This is so important, I’m going to type it again in caps. 

TO AVOID HAVING TO WIPE YOUR DEVICE, YOU CAN OPT OUT OF THE QPR BETA PROGRAM. BUT ONCE YOU DO, REFRAIN FROM INSTALLING TODAY’S QPR2 BETA 1 UPDATE. ONCE THE STABLE QPR1 RELEASE IS DROPPED, YOU CAN INSTALL IT.