Android 10
Android 10 also known as Android Q during its development, was the tenth major version of the Android operating system, released by Google. It introduced several new features, improvements, and changes over its predecessor, Android 9 Pie. Android 10 was officially announced in March 2019 and was first released in September 2019. Here are some of the key features and changes introduced in Android 10:
1. System-Wide Dark Mode: Android 10 introduced a system-wide dark mode that could be enabled in settings. This dark mode theme extended to system UI, system apps, and supported third-party apps, reducing eye strain and saving battery on OLED screens.
2. Gesture Navigation: Android 10 replaced the traditional three-button navigation with a more streamlined gesture navigation system. Users could swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the home screen, swipe up and hold for recent apps, and swipe from the left or right edge to go back.
3. Privacy Controls: Android 10 included enhanced privacy controls, allowing users to have more control over app permissions. Users could grant permissions to apps only when they were actively in use (one-time permissions) and view which apps accessed their location in the background.
4. Scoped Storage: Android 10 introduced Scoped Storage, a more restrictive file access system that provided better privacy and security. Apps had limited access to the file system, and external storage access was subject to user approval.
5. Smart Reply: Android 10 featured Smart Reply in notifications, allowing users to quickly respond to messages and notifications with suggested replies. It also supported actions like opening maps for addresses mentioned in messages.
6. Bubbles: Similar to Facebook’s Chat Heads, Android 10 introduced Bubbles, which allowed apps to display floating, interactive UI elements over other apps. This feature was primarily used for chat apps.
7. Focus Mode: Android 10 included Focus Mode, which allowed users to silence distracting apps temporarily to stay focused.
8. Live Caption: This feature automatically generated captions for media content like videos and podcasts, making content more accessible.
9. Native Support for Foldable Phones: Android 10 included improved support for foldable phones with features like screen continuity and resizable app windows.
10. Project Mainline: It introduced Project Mainline, which allowed Google to deliver important security and system updates through the Play Store, bypassing device manufacturers and carriers for critical updates.
11. Location Controls: Users had more granular control over location permissions, including the ability to allow apps to access location only while the app was in use.
12. Privacy Dashboard: Android 10 featured a Privacy Dashboard that displayed which apps accessed sensitive data like location, camera, and microphone.
13. Dynamic Depth Format: It introduced a Dynamic Depth Format API for developers, enabling them to create apps with advanced depth-related effects, like portrait mode in photos.
14. 5G Support: Android 10 included support for 5G networks, which allowed for faster data speeds and lower latency on 5G-capable devices.
Android 10 represented a significant step forward in terms of privacy, user experience, and developer tools. It aimed to provide users with more control over their data and introduced features to enhance productivity and reduce distractions. As with each new Android release, it formed the foundation for subsequent versions of the operating system.