Patience is a virtue and Pixel users are finally bearing the fruits of it. After what can only be described as a major holdup, exacerbated by the early release of Google's flagship Pixel 9 series, the wait for Android 15 is finally over.
Android 15 is available for Google's Pixel 6 and newer devices, featuring upgrades such as theft detection, Remote Lock, and Private Space for safeguarding sensitive apps.
The update introduces new tools like Audio Magic Eraser for flexible audio control, the new Google Weather app, expanded call screening, and Adaptive Vibration for optimal sound and vibration settings.
Private Space is your phone's digital safe space, allowing you to house sensitive banking or dating apps, or any other app for that matter, in it.
Apps added to the space are virtually invisible from your regular app list, recent apps view, notifications and settings, and they're only available to view/use post authentication. Users can choose to use their device's passcode for Private Space authentication, or they can use an entirely different one
support page to help you get started with the tool:
/nosanitize
various new features to help protect you from phone thieves, and those are coming in many different waves that you can read about here.
https://www.androidpolice.com/google-android-theft-protection-security-privacy/
The specific feature offered by Android 15 is called Factory reset protection and it means when an Android device is factory reset you'll then need to input your Google account credentials to set it up again.
The logic here is that the device will be bricked if they just reset it after snatching it out of your hands, and hopefully, over time, this will discourage thieves from stealing devices.
Charging Optimization
https://counter.social/@ecksmc/113272829127100938
There's a new status bar chip displayed when recording or casting your screen, which you can tap to surface relevant controls. Previously, these controls were displayed as part of a persistent notification. Much better than it used to be.
@ecksmc Pretty happy with my decision to stick with Samsung, for now.
@kel not had a Samsung for a while myself
Apparently though the private space is like secure folder you get on Samsung
@stueytheround @kel well, tbf there are multiple ways to hide stuff within Android already either by using googles file app which comes with a secure folder for individual files locked behind a pin/password etc.... To setting up multiple profiles work/play/kids etc, using different google accounts, where you can instal certain apps so they apps are kinda hidden behind a certain account - or use apps that can isolate certain apps in a sandbox
But its good to see it now baked into the OS now
Oh and for files only my fav is using OpenKeyChain to encrypt files
https://counter.social/@ecksmc/104892098589206730
Then I don't really need to worry about hiding them in a secure folder as such
Probably my best new feature... Well one anyway is the keyboard switcher
The new keyboard switcher feature makes swapping between multiple software keyboards faster. Rather than opening a menu for you to choose your keyboard from, the updated button instantly swaps between your installed keyboards. You can still bring up a list of your keyboards by pressing and holding the button.