TL;DR
- Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 improves desktop windowing by transferring the taskbar and letting PiP home windows float freely.
- Well being Join can now robotically monitor distance and energy along with steps utilizing supported machine sensors.
- The replace additionally features a cleaner Pixel Launcher context menu design and fixes bugs, together with one affecting a number of spell checker language choices.
Google has began rolling out Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 to eligible Pixel gadgets, bringing one other spherical of bug fixes alongside a handful of quality-of-life enhancements. The replace carries construct quantity CP31.260618.005 and addresses a number of points reported by beta testers. Nonetheless, past the bug fixes, Beta 6 additionally introduces just a few noteworthy options for Android’s desktop windowing expertise.
Desktop windowing continues to obtain polish as Google works towards making Android a extra succesful desktop working system. Google’s Mishaal Rahman factors out that the most recent beta brings the taskbar icons from the underside middle of the display screen to the bottom-left nook, giving the interface a extra conventional desktop-like structure.
In desktop windowing, taskbar icons are actually on the underside left as an alternative of within the backside middle.
Plus, picture-in-picture (PiP) home windows now freely float in desktop windowing so you possibly can drag them anyplace on display screen they usually’ll keep there.
Google has additionally improved how picture-in-picture (PiP) home windows behave when utilizing desktop windowing. As a substitute of robotically snapping to the left or proper fringe of the show, PiP home windows can now float freely anyplace on the display screen. As soon as repositioned, they’ll stay the place you place them, making multitasking really feel rather more versatile.
One other notable addition arrives in Well being Join. Following Android 16 QPR2’s introduction of automated step monitoring through on-device sensors, Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 additional expands the characteristic. Gadgets can now robotically monitor distance traveled and energy burned, along with steps.

As a result of these metrics are actually collected instantly by means of Well being Join, builders not have to implement separate monitoring logic for supported exercise information. Customers nonetheless stay in command of this info and might proceed managing which apps have permission to entry their Well being Join information.

The replace additionally refreshes the Pixel Launcher house display screen context menu with a cleaner design. The menu not separates particular person choices with divider strains, whereas the “Wallpaper & fashion” label has been moved above the latest wallpaper carousel.
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