Why I am unable to return to Android 16

It’s been nearly every week since Google launched Android 17 Beta 1, and as you’ve in all probability heard by now, it’s not a very huge replace. Whereas we count on extra new options in later beta variations, Beta 1 is fairly mild on user-facing modifications.

Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply there isn’t something cool on this first beta launch.

I’ve been testing Android 17 Beta 1 on certainly one of my Pixels, and there are already two options I desperately miss at any time when I’m going again to a cellphone operating Android 16.

At a Look is certainly one of my favourite Pixel options. my lock display screen and seeing data just like the climate, upcoming calendar appointments, flight information, and ongoing timers — all with out unlocking my cellphone — is immensely useful (particularly when utilizing the always-on show).

Nonetheless, I discover At a Look’s placement on the house display screen extraordinarily annoying. It’s not that the knowledge is much less helpful, however having a persistent widget on the high of my house display screen — one I can’t transfer or do away with — has all the time been a thorn within the Pixel house display screen expertise.

In Android 17 Beta 1, there’s lastly an answer to this: you’ll be able to take away At a Look from the house display screen, releasing up a further row of house for apps and widgets. It may not sound like a lot, nevertheless it goes a great distance in letting you determine methods to use that house. You possibly can hold At a Look on the house display screen should you choose, however the necessary factor is that you just now get to determine somewhat than having Google determine for you. And, importantly, eradicating At a Look from the house display screen doesn’t affect it on the lock display screen in any respect.

It’s value noting that some customers had entry to this setting in Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1, although it seems to be extra broadly out there in Android 17 Beta 1. And, unquestionably, it’s been a spotlight of my Android 17 Beta expertise up to now.

In Android 17, should you press and maintain on the Google Search bar on the backside of the house display screen, you’ll be able to faucet a brand new “Widget settings” button to customise the search bar to your actual liking. This consists of choices for the search bar’s theme (together with full customized colours), its transparency, and even its shortcut.

Within the week I’ve been utilizing Android 17 Beta 1, I haven’t fairly determined which shortcut I need to keep on with. The Information shortcut has been good for rapidly checking the information with only a faucet, although I’ve additionally discovered the Saved shortcut fairly useful. I can also simply disable it and hold my search bar rather less cluttered. No matter I finally determine on, having that freedom of selection has been unbelievable.

These customization choices have beforehand been out there for the usual Google Search widget, although they’ve by no means been supported by the Google Search bar on the Pixel house display screen. This discrepancy by no means actually made sense, and it’s fantastic to have that corrected in Android 17 Beta 1.

When you’ve been let down by what we’ve seen from Android 17 Beta 1 up to now, it’s value reiterating {that a} lot extra is on the horizon. We all know Google is engaged on a controversial break up design for the notification panel and Fast Settings. A common clipboard ought to arrive in some unspecified time in the future, as ought to a really cool App Lock function. And that’s to say nothing of different options that haven’t leaked but. Merely put, there’s nonetheless rather a lot to stay up for with Android 17.

However even at this level with Android 17 Beta 1, I’m fairly proud of what we’ve seen up to now. Between the At a Look and Google Search bar modifications, Android 17 has already addressed two longstanding complaints — and I’m thrilled with each of them.