The release of Android 17 Beta 3 marks an important milestone for Pixel users enrolled in the testing program, finally introducing in stable form a highly anticipated feature in recent weeks: the opening of the apps in Bubble mode.
Android 17 Beta 3, all the new features
Initially unveiled in the previous test version, this feature offers a more immediate multitasking system. By long-pressing the icon of any app on the home screen, users can select the dedicated option to transform the app into a floating bubble.
This element can be freely moved around the screen and, with a simple touch, opens a small window and adjustable, guaranteeing quick access to the application without interrupting the main activity in progress.
The return of Gemini’s voice control
In addition to the windowed interface features, the update fixes an issue that had temporarily compromised the voice activation of Google’s Home AI.
Testers can once again utter the classic activation command to summon Gemini in overlay, requesting execution of complex tasks and removing the need to hold down the power button.
To ensure the feature works after downloading the update, simply open the Gemini app, go to the profile settings and verify that the hands-free control toggle is active.
Alongside this fix, developers have introduced an independent volume control, allowing you to adjust the digital assistant’s volume without affecting the overall volume of multimedia content playing.
Aesthetic tweaks and visual customization
The Pixel Launcher search bar loses the outer ring with dynamic colors seen in the second beta, seen in the second beta, reinserting the AI-powered mode button inside the bar.
The background color and the search engine icon continue to adapt to the tones of the background chosen by the user to ensure visual coherence.
Other aesthetic changes include a blurred background for widget tiles and a new design for the screen recording tool.
Additionally, to offer an even deeper level of customization, system settings now allow hiding or showing the names of apps under their icons directly from the Wallpapers and Styles section.
Other various system optimizations
An interesting design decision concerns the management of network connections. Quick Settings again show a clear separation between the controls for Wi-Fi and those for cellular data.
This choice steps back from the unification that occurred with Android 12, originally intended to limit accidental disconnects, and now offers more direct control.
Being software still in finalization, much of the work has focused on overall stability. The installation package includes the removal of a substantial number of reported issues:
- Fixed an issue where incoming calls did not trigger the device vibration
- Fixed an issue that allowed Battery Saver mode to stay active indefinitely when an 80% charge cap was enabled
- Fixed a screen rendering issue that caused visual artifacts during interactions with Google Messages notifications from the lock screen
- Fixed an issue where notifications sometimes did not disappear or reappear
- Fixed a rendering issue that caused visual artifacts during back navigation transitions
- Fixed an issue that caused random disappearance of system status bar icons, preventing users from viewing battery or network levels
- Fixed a system instability issue that caused devices to freeze and reboot
- Fixed a camera malfunction that prevented users from switching to the 5x telephoto lens
- Fixed behaviors such as interruptions and other irregular actions occurring during transitions from ultrawide to wide-angle lens
