Google inches closer to Android 12 launch with Beta 5 release

With Google Android 12 Beta 5, Device Controls can also be accessed straight from the lock screen through a shortcut. The stable Android 12 release is just a few weeks away.

With the Android 12 Beta 5 Google has released Material You optimisations for several of its in-built applications. (Google)

Google has released the 5th and final beta of Android 12 for the developers. You have to just wait a few more weeks until Android 12 is available to the public. The company has released a final beta build to let users offer last-minute feedback. Like the previous beta, the Android 12 Beta 5 SDK and NDK APIs, app-facing system behaviours. The company is asking developers to get their apps ready before it releases the final and stable version of Android 12.

“We're just a few weeks away from the official release of Android 12! As we put the finishing touches on the new version of Android, today we're bringing you a final Beta update to help you with testing and development. For developers, now is the time to make sure your apps are ready,” wrote Google in a blog post. You can get Beta 5 today on your Pixel device, including on the Pixel 5a with 5G. With the latest fixes and optimisations, Android 12 Beta 5 is said to give everything you need to complete your testing.

This final beta is also a release candidate build. It means that, assuming nothing goes wrong, this build should graduate to stable status. Google says that the stable release is just a few weeks away. Hence, there's still time for them to catch any bugs that arise following today's release. With the Android 12 Beta 5 Google has released Material You optimisations for several of its in-built applications.

With version 7.0, Google Clock is the latest Google app to receive a Material You redesign. Google Clock app now makes heavy use of larger bubbles for buttons. The Google Clock 7.0 update also brings redesigned widgets, which were first teased at I/O earlier this year. The analogue, digital, and world clocks have all been revamped. As Material You candidates, they follow the system colour palette generated from your wallpaper.

Google is also bringing a handy Device Controls shortcut. As per the XDA Developers report, there's no longer room for the Device Controls or Quick Access Wallet feature. However, Google hasn't gotten rid of Device Controls or the Quick Access Wallet feature. They're still both accessible from Quick Settings tiles. With Android 12 Beta 5, Device Controls can also be accessed straight from the lock screen through a shortcut.