Android 13 Developer Preview 1 (DP1) is still giving up surprises and among the most recent of those is how the new build’s Silent Mode effectively kills vibrations. That’s based on a recent discovery reported by 9to5Google. For clarity, Silent Mode is a user-activated mode. It happens when users turn the volume for notifications all the way down and then turn it down one step further.
Summarily, the new preview build showcases a silent mode that doesn’t just remove sound or vibrations from notifications. It also dampens or completely removes vibrations caused at the system level, helping Android 13 in Silent Mode stay even quieter.
In effect, that means there aren’t any vibrations when typing or when entering a pin on the lock screen. Or in any other apps where touches might usually provide haptic feedback.
Will Android 13 keep a zero vibration Silent Mode in the final version?
Now, Android 13 also brings a number of other fairly big changes to the table. But as with any of those, there’s no guarantee that this new vibration-free Silent Mode will remain intact when Android 13 is finalized. For starters, there is at least one vibration that remains in place with the new update on testers’ Pixel-branded smartphones. When a fingerprint is used to unlock the screen, the phone still provides haptic feedback.
That could mean that Google is still trying to garner feedback from developers about the change. And that could potentially lead to further revision as the previews continue later on. Or, conversely, it could signal that Google is simply trying to ensure users know when their fingerprint wasn’t read properly. The latter is more likely to be true. Especially since plugging in or unplugging the phone still results in vibrations. As does placing the phone on a wireless charging device.
If this change does remain in place through the final release of Android 13, Google could also make other changes. For instance, it might include a menu option to turn haptic feedback back on.
2022-02-11 15:07:27