Nothing‘s first smartphone, the Nothing Phone (1) is finally receiving the stable Nothing OS 3.0 update, based on Android 15. The update, with firmware version V3.0-250108-1938 and a total size of 1.46GB, has been released to some users today, with others set to receive it soon.

The update introduces Shared Widgets, a feature that lets users display Photo Widgets on their home screens to connect with friends and family. This feature is exclusive to Nothing devices and is currently in beta, with plans to expand widget compatibility over time.

The lock screen has been updated with new customization options. Users can long-press the lock screen or visit the Customization page to select new clock face styles and add more widgets, making the lock screen more functional.

The AI-powered Smart App Drawer organizes apps into folders automatically for better organization. Users can also pin their favorite apps at the top of the drawer for quicker access.

The Pop-Up View feature has been enhanced for improved multitasking. Users can move the pop-up window to any part of the screen, resize it using the corners, or pin it to the screen edge for quick access. Notifications can also be swiped down to activate the pop-up view without leaving the current app.

Design adjustments have been made to improve usability. Quick Settings and the widget library have been redesigned for easier navigation and editing. The Settings menu now shows more details in the Network & Internet and Bluetooth sections. New animations have been added for fingerprint unlocking and charging, enhancing visual appeal.

Additional updates include smarter AI learning to prioritize frequently used apps, auto-archive support to manage storage space, and partial screen sharing for app-specific recording. The predictive back animation feature works in supported apps, and a refined setup wizard ensures a smoother onboarding experience. You can also check out the official changelog below.

Nothing Phone (1) Nothing OS 3.0 Update Changelog

Shared Widgets

Use widgets to link up with friends and family. See another person’s widgets displayed on your home screen and interact with each other through reactions. A new way to stay connected.

Shared Widgets are currently only supported between Nothing devices, and only Photo Widgets (square) can be shared. We are rapidly developing support for other widgets, so stay tuned!

Notes: As Shared Widgets are in beta, you might encounter some issues. We appreciate your patience as we work to enhance your experience.

Lock Screen

• Introduced new lock screen customisation page. Access by long-pressing the lock screen or via the Customisation page.
• Choose from a range of new clock face styles.
• Expanded widget space, allowing you to place more widgets on your lock screen.

New App Drawer Style

• Added AI-powered Smart Drawer to automatically categorise your apps into folders, keeping your app drawer organised and making apps easy to find.
• Now you can pin your favourite apps to the top of the app drawer for quick access.

Enhanced Pop-up View

• Drag the pop-up view to any position on the screen for convenient multitasking.
• Easily resize the pop-up view by dragging the bottom corners.
• Pin the pop-up view on the screen edge for speedy access.
• Swipe down incoming notifications to enter the pop-up view, allowing you to quickly view information without leaving your current app. Enable via Settings > Special features > Pop-up view.

Elevated Design

• Redesigned Quick Settings and an optimised editing experience, allowing you to effortlessly tailor your shortcuts to your preferences.
• Redesigned widget library. Choose your favourite Nothing Widgets or swipe left to browse third-party widgets.
• Enhanced Settings with updated UI visuals. Network & Internet and Bluetooth options now display current connection.
• New dot animation for fingerprint unlocking and charging.

Other Improvements

• Allow AI to learn your usage habits and prioritise your frequently used apps. Keeps them active for longer intelligently for a smoother and more efficient experience.
• Added support for auto-archive function to automatically free up storage space without removing apps or data from your device.
• New partial screen sharing, so you can record just an app window rather than the entire screen.
• Updated setup wizard to version 3.0 for a smoother introduction.
• Enabled predictive back animations for apps that have opted in.

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(Source)

The post Nothing Phone (1) Android 15 stable update is finally here with a new look & features appeared first on Gizmochina.

Nothing OS is one of the cleanest yet feature-rich Android skins. I also love the fact that this brand takes software things seriously. In fact, it was among the first brands to release early builds of Android 15. The stable build is already live for Nothing Phone (1) and Phone (2a), with the remaining models to get the treat in early 2025.

Nothing OS 3.0 is a major upgrade. It brings some exciting new stuff and plenty of minor changes and improvements that improve the overall experience. Here are the biggest changes in Nothing OS 3.0 you shouldn’t miss:

1. A native gallery app

Nothing Gallery is finally here. Users have been requesting it for a very long time, and finally, it has arrived. The Gallery app also resembles Nothing’s design language. There’s a Photos section, an Album section, and a search section; navigating between them is fast enough.

The Gallery app is fast and uses AI to find key moments within the photos and displays them in bigger thumbnails to make them quickly noticeable. There’s also AI image segmentation that highlights key objects for easy identification.

During the Nothing OS 3.0 launch, the brand announced that it would add more AI features to the Gallery app in the future, including AI upscaling, AI super resolution, and AI image generation.

2. New dot-matrix animations

Nothing OS 3.0 brings some cool dot-matrix-style animations. First is the boot-up animation, which looks a lot better than before.

There’s also a new fingerprint-unlocking animation, where the dots move and breathe outwards when you press and hold your finger.

The new charging animation also resembles Nothing’s dot design language. When you connect the charger, the dots move from the bottom to the top. The weather icon inside the weather app also gets a dot-matrix design that can be animated.

These are nice additions to the software that make it more visually appealing.

3. More customizable lock screen

The lock screen is getting a major upgrade with Nothing OS 3.0, making it more customizable than ever before. First of all, there are many watch faces to choose from. Some of them are iOS-inspired, though.

You can now do more from the lock screen by adding more widgets. To do this, tap the widget area and toggle on “Expand widget area.” You can also customize the two shortcuts at the bottom.

4. Revamped quick settings panel

The revamped Control Center is cleaner and resembles Nothing’s design language. You can now customize the size of tiles, just like you do on the home screen. This is particularly useful for shortcuts that you use very often.

Some shortcuts offer more actions when their sizes are increased. For example, the 1×2 audio tile lets you switch the sound profile to normal, vibrate, or silent. The brightness slider has been moved below the Quick Settings tiles, which is the usual location on most Android phones. Another change to the brightness slider is that it now includes a shortcut icon to toggle adaptive brightness.

5. Smart app drawer

Nothing OS 3.0 is getting important changes to the app drawer as well. First, there’s a Smart Drawer to automatically categorize apps for quicker access. The app drawer also lets you pin your favorite apps at the top of the app drawer. This is particularly useful if you don’t want to clutter the home screen with many apps and still want quicker access to your most used apps.

6. Get more done with new widgets

Widgets are useful. You can get a lot of things done without having to open apps. Nothing phones already have over 20 widgets, but the list keeps getting bigger with every major release. There’s a new countdown widget in Nothing OS 3.0 that lets you track time towards a specific date.

The camera widget now has been improved. You can now use it to open any camera mode or pro mode.

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The post The 6 best new features in Nothing OS 3.0 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Nothing has officially rolled out the Android 15-based Nothing OS 3.0 open beta update for the Nothing Phone (1) and the Phone (2a) Plus. This update introduces a range of new features designed to improve customization, usability, and performance, showcasing Nothing’s focus on enhancing its software.

Update Now Available Across All Devices

With this release, Nothing has ensured that all its smartphones can access the latest software. Whether you use a Phone (2a) Plus or a Phone (1), updating to the beta version is simple. However, since this is a beta version, users are advised to back up their data before starting the update, as a factory reset might be required in case of any issues.

How to Get the Update

To update to Nothing OS 3.0 beta, ensure your device is running Nothing OS version 2.6. Once you download the required APK file (Phone 1 / Phone 2a Plus), follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings > System > Update to Beta Version.
2. Tap Check for new version and follow the instructions to complete the process.

Make sure your device build number matches the requirements for your model.

What’s New in Nothing OS 3.0?

Shared Widgets for Better Connectivity

The update introduces shared widgets, allowing users to share and interact with widgets from friends or family directly on their home screen. This adds a fun and unique way to stay connected.

Improved Lock Screen Options

Users can now access a lock screen customization page by long-pressing the lock screen. The update brings new clock styles, more widget space, and better options for personalizing the lock screen.

Smart Drawer for Organized Apps

A new AI-powered Smart Drawer automatically organizes apps into folders for easier access. Users can also pin their most-used apps at the top of the drawer for quicker navigation.

Updated Quick Settings and Camera Features

Quick Settings now have a refreshed design, making it easier to edit and access options. The camera gets significant improvements, including faster launch speeds, better HDR processing, enhanced portrait effects, and improved low-light performance.

Pop-Up View for Multitasking

The update makes multitasking easier with a movable pop-up view. Users can resize the view, pin it to the screen edge, and check notifications without switching apps. This feature can be enabled through Settings > System > Pop-Up View.

Other Key Improvements

• AI-Powered App Prioritization: Keeps frequently used apps within easy reach.
• Auto-Archive: Frees up storage without deleting apps.
• Partial Screen Sharing: Allows users to record only specific apps for better privacy.
• Updated Animations: Adds new fingerprint and charging animations with the brand’s signature design.
• Improved Setup Wizard: Makes the initial setup process smoother for new users.

Nothing OS 3.0 Official Update Changelog

Shared Widgets

● Use widgets to link up with friends and family. See another person’s widgets displayed on your home screen and interact with each other through reactions. A new way to stay connected.

Lock screen

● New lock screen customisation page. Access by long-pressing the lock screen.

● Upgraded clock faces. Choose your favourite style.

● Expanded widget space, allowing you to place more widgets on your lock screen.

Smart Drawer

● Added AI-powered Smart Drawer feature to automatically categorise your apps into folders. For better organisation and easy access.

● For ultimate convenience, you can pin your favourite apps to the top of the app drawer. No scrolling required.

Quick Settings

● Reconsidered Quick Settings design with an optimised editing experience.

● Enhanced widget library design.

● Updated visuals in Settings including better Network & Internet and Bluetooth options.

Camera improvements

● Faster camera launch speed under the Camera Widget.

● Reduced HDR scene processing time.

● Optimised portrait effects by fine-tuning blur intensity based on face size.

● Boosted camera performance in low-light environments.

● Improved zoom slider display.

Enhanced pop-up view

● Movable pop-up view for cleaner and more productive multi-tasking.

● Easily resize the pop-up view by dragging the bottom corners.

● Pin the pop-up view on the screen edge for quick access.

● View information without leaving your current app. Simply swipe down on incoming notifications to enter the pop-up view. Enable via Settings > System > Pop-up view.

Other improvements

● AI-powered selection and prioritisation of your frequently used apps, keeping them at your fingertips for a more efficient experience

● Added support for auto-archive function to automatically free up storage space without removing apps or data from your device.

● Partial screen sharing for more efficient and secure screen recording. Record just an app window rather than the entire screen.

● Updated setup wizard to version 3.0 for the smoothest introduction to Nothing OS.

● Enabled predictive back animations for apps that have opted in.

● New fingerprint animation with signature dot matrix styling.

● New charging animation with signature dot matrix styling.

(Source 1, 2)

The post Nothing OS 3.0 Beta is live for Phone (1) & Phone (2a) Plus: Here’s everything new appeared first on Gizmochina.

Nothing OS is one of the best Android skins. It’s minimalistic yet feature-rich with plenty of customizations, and with the latest Nothing OS 3.0 update, it’s getting a lot better.

The Nothing OS 3.0 beta is already out for a few devices, allowing users to get an early taste of the software ahead of the public release. If you also want to join the beta party, follow the steps mentioned below.

Steps to install Nothing OS 3.0 beta

Before you follow the steps, ensure that Nothing OS 3.0 beta is available for your device and region.

Step 1: Ensure that your device is running Nothing OS 2.6 and has the following build number:

• Nothing Phone (2): Pong-U2.6-241016-1700
• Nothing Phone (2a): Pacman-U2.6-240828_1906

If it isn’t already, go to Settings > System > System Update and install the available update.

Step 2: Download this APK and install it on your phone.

Step 3: Navigate to Settings > System > Update to Beta version and tap Check for new version.

Step 4: Tap Download Package. If you don’t see this option, this means no beta version is available for your device right now. Check back again later.

Step 5: Once the package download is finished, tap Install Update.

Be sure to back up your device before installing the beta update to prevent data loss. Nothing says your device may experience temporary overheating and increased power consumption but will quickly return to normal, so there is no need to worry if that happens.

Also Read: What’s new in Nothing OS 3.0?

How to rollback to Nothing OS 2.6?

Beta software may have critical bugs. If those are unbearable, rolling back to a previous stable version makes a lot of sense.

[Note: Remember to back up your important data before downgrading to a previous software version.]

To roll back to Nothing OS 2.6, download the required rollback package from the Nothing community. Then, go to Settings > System > Update to Beta version. Tap Import file, choose the rollback package, and install it.

Here’s the direct download link to rollback packages:

• Nothing Phone (2): Nothing OS 2.6 (rollback)
• Nothing Phone (2a): Nothing OS 2.6 (rollback)

What’s new in Nothing OS 3.0?

Nothing OS 3.0 introduces Shared Widgets. As the name suggests, you can share widgets with others or see others’ widgets on your home screen and interact through reactions.

The lock screen is now more customizable than before, allowing users to choose from multiple watch faces. You can add more widgets to the lock screen by toggling the Expand widget area.

The latest Nothing OS 3.0 software also improves the Camera app. The app launch speed has improved greatly, and the processing time for HDR and portrait effects is up to 25% faster. The low-light performance also improves.

Nothing has added new fingerprint and charging animations with signature dot matrix styling. The OS 3.0 enables predictive back animations for supported apps. There’s also the AI-powered smart drawer that automatically categorizes apps into folders.

During the Nothing OS 3.0 launch, the brand announced that the new software has the much-requested Nothing Gallery app. However, it’s notably absent in the beta update. This could indicate that it’s still under development and might be a part of the stable release.

The post Here’s how to get Nothing OS 3.0 beta on your Nothing phone appeared first on Gizmochina.

Nothing has released the second Nothing OS 3.0 open beta update for its Nothing Phone (2a). This update brings a host of new features and improvements, including shared widgets, enhanced quick settings, and optimized camera performance.

Shared Widgets: A New Way to Connect

One of the most significant additions in this update is the shared widgets feature. This innovative feature allows users to share widgets with friends and family. Currently, only photo widgets can be shared, but Nothing is working on expanding this functionality to other widgets in the future. Here’s the complete changelog:

Nothing OS 3.0 Open Beta 2 Changelog

Shared Widgets

Use widgets to link up with friends and family. See another person’s widgets displayed on your home screen and interact with each other through reactions. A new way to stay connected.

Quick Settings improvements

Refined the animations in Quick Settings, including swipe animations, Bluetooth tile transitions, and tile resizing. Improved the user experience when interacting with the ring tile within the Quick Settings Widget.

Smart Drawer enhancements

Enhanced app categorization accuracy. New apps may take a short while to be properly categorized. Introduced auto-sort, allowing your apps and folders to organize themselves based on your usage habits.

Camera enhancements

Improved stability when switching camera modes. Upgraded HDR algorithm for better stability and enhanced photo quality. Optimized Portrait Mode. Enhanced brightness when using Ultra HDR Mode.

Visual and performance updates

AI-powered selection and prioritization of your frequently used apps, keeping them at your fingertips for a smoother and more efficient experience. PUBG now supports a high refresh rate of 90 fps for smoother gameplay. Added an onboarding guide for first-time Pop-up view users. Other general bug fixes and performance improvements.

How to Install the Update

To install the Nothing OS 3.0 Open Beta 2 update, make sure your Phone (2a) is running Nothing OS 3.0. If not, you can download and install the update manually. Once installed, navigate to Settings > System > System updates to check for the latest update.

(Source)

The post Nothing OS 3.0 Open Beta 2 Now Available for Phone (2a) with new features & improvements appeared first on Gizmochina.

Nothing has rolled out the Android 15-based Nothing OS 3.0 open beta update for the Nothing Phone (2). This follows the beta release for the Phone (2a) last month, with a stable release for both phones expected in December.

Before You Update:

This is a beta version, meaning it’s still under development. It might contain bugs and could potentially affect your data. Backing up your phone before updating is highly recommended.

Nothing OS 3.0 update Changelog

Use widgets to link up with friends and family. See another person’s widgets displayed on your home screen and interact with each other through reactions. A new way to stay connected.

Lock screen

• New lock screen customisation page. Access by long-pressing the lock screen.
• Upgraded clock faces. Choose your favourite style.
• Expanded widget space, allowing you to place more widgets on your lock screen.

Smart Drawer

• Added AI-powered Smart Drawer feature to automatically categorise your apps into folders for better organisation and easy access.
• For ultimate convenience, you can pin your favourite apps to the top of the app drawer. No scrolling required.

Quick Settings

• Reconsidered Quick Settings design with an optimised editing experience.
• Enhanced widget library design.
• Updated visuals in Settings including better Network & Internet and Bluetooth options.

Camera improvements

• Faster camera launch speed under the Camera Widget.
• Reduced HDR scene processing time.
• Optimised portrait effects by fine-tuning blur intensity based on face size.
• Boosted camera performance in low-light environments.
• Improved zoom slider display.

Enhanced pop-up view

• Movable pop-up view for cleaner and more productive multi-tasking.
• Easily resize the pop-up view by dragging the bottom corners.
• Pin the pop-up view on the screen edge for quick access.
• View information without leaving your current app. Simply swipe down on incoming notifications to enter the pop-up view. Enable via Settings > System > Pop-up view.

Other improvements

• AI-powered selection and prioritisation of your frequently used apps, keeping them at your fingertips for a more efficient experience.
• Added support for auto-archive function to automatically free up storage space without removing apps or data from your device.
• Partial screen sharing for more efficient and secure screen recording. Record just an app window rather than the entire screen.
• Updated setup wizard to version 3.0 for the smoothest introduction to Nothing OS.
• Enabled predictive back animations for apps that have opted in.
• New fingerprint animation with signature dot matrix styling.
• New charging animation with signature dot matrix styling.

(Source)

The post Nothing OS 3.0 Beta Now Available for Phone (2) with Android 15 Features appeared first on Gizmochina.

As Android 15 is nearing its official launch, many smartphone makers are inviting users to test the upcoming update through beta programs. Nothing also recently launched its Nothing OS 3.0 Open Beta program based on the latest Android OS.

But in a surprising twist, the company’s budget-friendly Phone (2a) received the update first, leaving its flagship Phone (2) out in the cold for the time being.

Why Phone (2a) received Android 15 update before Phone (2)

Akis Evangelidis, co-founder of Nothing, addressed this unexpected rollout strategy in a statement on social media platform X. 

Traditionally, new software updates land on a company’s top-of-the-line devices first. While Akis acknowledged that many expected the Phone (2) to be the first beta recipient, he explained the decision boiled down to technical optimization.

Much like other OEMs, Nothing relies on chip manufacturers like Qualcomm and MediaTek to adapt major Android updates to their processors.

In this case, Akis explains that MediaTek completed the optimization for the Phone (2a)’s Dimensity 7200 Pro processor faster than Qualcomm did for the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 used in the Phone (2). 

So rather than wait for the Phone (2) implementation to catch up, Nothing opted to prioritize early user testing with its budget device. 

“We wanted one of our users to start testing it as soon as possible,” says Akis. “This way, we can gather feedback and ensure we’re ready to roll out the public release of Nothing OS 3.0 by the end of the year.”

Looking forward, the co-founder acknowledges the need to prioritize its flagship devices as the company expands its product portfolio. 

While the Phone (2a) gets early access to the beta, the Nothing OS 3.0 update for the Phone (2) isn’t far behind. It’s set to roll out in November, with other phones, including the Phone (1), Phone (2a) Plus, and CMF Phone 1, receiving the update in December.

(Source)

The post Nothing explains why Phone (2a) gets Android 15 update earlier than Phone (2) appeared first on Gizmochina.

Nothing today officially launched the open beta for Nothing OS 3.0, based on Android 15. Phone (2a) users can join the beta immediately, while the beta will be available for Phone (2) in November. In December, the program will open for Phone (1), Phone (2a) Plus, and CMF Phone 1.

Although the company hasn’t gone into detail about the updates and features, looks like Mishaal Rahman from Android Faithful got an early look at Nothing OS 3.0. Based on his findings, it looks like the new OS is bringing a significant UI overhaul along with smarter app organization, and several feature enhancements.  

Nothing OS 3.0: Here’s what you can expect

One of the most noticeable changes in Nothing OS 3.0 is the refreshed user interface. The notification and Quick Settings area has received a visual overhaul, adopting a more refined and dynamic aesthetic. 

While it has the familiar stock Android feel, Nothing has infused its unique design language to create a cohesive and visually pleasing experience. The Quick Settings tiles have been redesigned to be resizable, allowing for greater customization and flexibility.  

The Settings app has also been reorganized to improve navigation and accessibility. Key features have been grouped into distinct sections, making it easier to find the desired settings. 

Additionally, Nothing has introduced new features such as a dedicated “Special features” section, which includes options for gestures, RAM booster, and game mode.

Customization options have also been expanded. Users can now change the system font, customize the lock screen with more flexibility, and even use AI-powered app drawer organization. The Smart App Drawer leverages artificial intelligence to categorize apps based on usage for a more intuitive and personalized experience.  

Moreover, the pop-up view, which allows opening apps in a floating window in Nothing phones, now has buttons at the top to minimize the tab or to close it. 

Inheriting Android 15 Features

As Nothing OS 3.0 is built on Android 15, it naturally inherits several new features introduced by Google. These include the ability to archive apps to free up space, adjust color contrast for improved accessibility, run basic device diagnostics, and set the Google Home Favorites page as the screen saver. 

Additionally, Nothing OS 3.0 offers a dedicated shortcut to quickly access lock screen customization options, support for partial screen sharing during recording or casting, and native support for passkeys.  

The update also brings several minor changes, including a “Current” card in the wallpaper picker that shows the user’s current wallpaper and opens the wallpaper editor upon tapping.

For a detailed look at Nothing OS 3.0, you can check out the original story from Android Faithful. Also, keep in mind, this is just the first beta, so more features are likely to be added in future releases.

The post Nothing OS 3.0 preview shows revamped UI, AI-based app management, and more appeared first on Gizmochina.

Apart from a unique design, Nothing phones stand out because of a great software experience. In fact, Nothing OS 2.5 was one of the best custom skins based on Android 14. Hence, expectations are high with Nothing OS 3.0, which will be based on Android 15.

The brand has already announced the much-anticipated Nothing OS 3.0, sharing details about the beta and stable release, as well as the new features and improvements it brings.

Here’s everything you need to know about Nothing OS 3.0.

Nothing OS 3.0 Release Timeline

Nothing OS 3.0, based on Android 15, was launched on September 24 via the company’s official YouTube channel. While it didn’t share a roadmap with exact dates, Nothing confirmed that the open beta will arrive in early October 2024, and if everything goes as planned, the stable build will begin rolling out in December.

Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, Nothing Phone (2a), and Nothing Phone (2) should be the first in line to get the Android 15-based Nothing OS 3.0 update, followed by CMF Phone 1 and Nothing Phone (1). 

Nothing OS 3.0 Eligible Devices

• Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
• Nothing Phone (2a)
• Nothing Phone (2)
• Nothing Phone (1)
• CMF Phone 1

Nothing promises three Android upgrades for all smartphones, except for the CMF Phone 1, which will only get two OS upgrades.

The Nothing Phone (1) is the oldest device on the list released with Android 12 out of the box. So, Android 15 would be the final OS upgrade for this device.

What’s New in Nothing OS 3.0?

Here are the new features and improvements in Nothing OS 3.0:

1. Nothing Gallery App

Nothing OS 3.0 is confirmed to bring the Nothing Gallery app. Users had been requesting it for a long time, and the company finally listened to them. As shown during the launch, the new Nothing Gallery app opens a photo as soon as the user taps on it.

The Gallery app uses artificial intelligence (AI) to find key moments within your photos and displays them in a bigger thumbnail to make them quickly noticeable. It also has AI image segmentation to highlight the key object and segment it out from the rest of the image in the thumbnail to make it easy to find.

Nothing is aware of the long transition time from Camera to Google Photos. According to the brand, the transition to Nothing Gallery should be 1.4 seconds faster. Also, the processing time for HDR and portrait effects will be up to 25% faster.

The brand has also confirmed that it will add more automatic AI image categorization, natural language search, and many more AI features in the future. AI upscaling, Super Resolution, and AI image generation capabilities will also be introduced sometime in the future.

2. Redesigned Lock Screen

The lock screen in Nothing OS 3.0 is customizable in many more ways. First, you have multiple clock faces to choose from. Some are inspired by Apple’s iOS, and some are completely unique.

You can tap the widget area and toggle on Expand widget mode to add more widgets to the expanded widget area. 

3. New Animations

Nothing OS 3.0 also brings some cool animations. First is the new fingerprint animation, where the dots move and breathe outwards when you press and hold your finger.

The new OS also has a new charging animation. Again, it’s a dot design language that makes it the Nothing’s way. When you connect the charger, the dots move from the bottom to the top, which looks a lot better than before.

The Weather app now shows the icon in a cool dot matrix style, which can be animated as well.

4. Redesigned Quick Settings

With Nothing OS 3.0, the Quick Settings panel is getting a significant upgrade. It looks cleaner than before and resembles Nothing’s design language. First, the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icon sizes have been reduced significantly to accommodate more icons.

The OS 3.0 allows users to customize the size of the tiles, similar to home screen widgets. Some tiles give you more options when you increase their size. For example, the 1×2 audio tile gives you the option to set the sound profile to vibrate or mute.

The active tile now becomes red for quick differentiation from inactive tiles. While it’s a subtle change, the red accent adds to a better aesthetic. And finally, the brightness slider has been added.

5. App Pinning and Categorization

Nothing OS 3.0 makes useful changes to the app drawer to access the required app quickly. First, it lets you pin your favorite apps at the top of the app drawer. Pinning the apps you open frequently might save you a lot of time.

Another useful feature of the Nothing OS 3.0 is the app categorization, which Nothing calls Smart Drawer. Inspired by iOS, this feature automatically sorts all your apps into different categories.

First, you have a row with four AI-suggested apps, followed by categories of apps.

6. Redesigned Settings App

The Settings app menu in Nothing OS 3.0 gets a new look. The sizes of the Network & Internet and Connected devices options have been shrunk and placed horizontally, similar to the rest of the options, which, in my opinion, adds fluidity to the menu. All the menu options are now separated by a small gap.

Another change is that the Dot Matrix text has been replaced with Roboto. It’s one of the most readable fonts and has been applied across the system.

7.  New Widgets and Widget Sharing

Nothing phones already have over 20 widgets, and the company promises to keep expanding the bucket to allow users to easily access more information without having to open the app. In the Nothing OS 3.0, there’s a new countdown widget.

The new widget allows you to track time towards a specific date. You can also use it to display year’s progress or your birthday.

The new software also introduces Shared Widgets. This feature allows you to share widgets with someone. It’s a nice way to share your fitness progress or screen time.

Android 15 Features (Unconfirmed)

The above are features developed by Nothing’s development team. However, the next upgrade will bundle more features as part of Android 15.

Nothing hasn’t revealed which Android 15 features have been roped into the next upgrade. These could be on the list: 

1. Private Space

Android 15 introduces Private Space to keep your data and apps safe from others with an additional layer of security. Anything you do inside the Private Space isn’t visible to other users on the device. It can be an excellent place to put your dating and financial apps. 

2. Theft Detection Lock

This is one of the most useful Android 15 features designed to protect others from stealing your data. The theft detection lock uses Google’s AI to determine if your phone has been snatched from your hands. Once detected, the device locks itself automatically to prevent any data theft.

If the thief manages to factory reset the device, he won’t be able to activate it until he knows the Google account details previously used on the device.  

3. App Archiving

Android 15 will allow users to uninstall unnecessary apps while keeping the user data around. It works similarly to offloading apps on iPhones. There won’t be any data loss; you can continue where you left off after reinstalling/unarchiving the app.

Android phones already have app archiving via the Google Play Store, allowing you to archive and restore apps. However, Android 15 integrates this feature at the OS level, allowing users to archive/restore apps, even those installed outside of the Google Play Store.

Nothing OS 3.0 seems like an exciting upgrade. Which new feature(s) do you like the most? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

The post Nothing OS 3.0 Release Date, Eligible Devices, and New Features appeared first on Gizmochina.

Nothing has expanded its range of audio products with the launch of its new Nothing Ear (open) TWS earphone yesterday. The company is also working on integrating AI into its operating system alongside offering performance improvements and some visual refinements.

Nothing founder Carl Pei and Yuri Levin, Software Product Design Lead at Nothing introduced the features of the upcoming Nothing OS 3.0 in the company’s YouTube channel. This follows a teaser of the new operating system from earlier this year.

Key improvements in Nothing OS 3.0

Nothing OS 3.0 is set to bring several new changes including redesigns throughout the Android skin as well as a long-awaited first-party “Nothing Gallery” app

When you have so many apps and you have to scroll through this, like a huge canvas of app icons, it can be really hard to find the app that you want. To solve this problem, Nothing OS 3.0 offers you the ability to pin apps to the top. This is very useful for apps you want to be always visible.

Nothing is going one step further with the integration of AI into the Smart Drawer App. It can sort all your apps into different categories. While this feels like a basic feature that we have already seen before, Nothing claims that AI analyzes the usage data of different apps and surfaces the right apps for you at the right moment. The company has also added a new countdown widget to help users keep track of their time.

The visual refinements include a refined aesthetic with redesigned elements such as the Quick Settings panel and lock screen clock. The auto brightness is now integrated into the brightness slider button. There’s also a new dot animation, which reportedly uses a new animation engine to provide smoother and more dynamic visual effects throughout the OS. It includes fingerprint animation, charging animation, etc.

The weather icon in the Weather app is also redesigned with a dot matrix style, which feels more in line with the overall design aesthetics of the UI.

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Nothing OS 3.0 (based on Android 15) is expected to begin rolling out in September 2024. The update will introduce several new features, including revamped Quick Settings, enhanced lock screen customization options, and improvements to fingerprint unlock and gesture navigation.

Additionally, Android 15-specific features like app archiving and predictive back animations will be included. The update is likely to roll out in phases, though it’s not yet clear whether all Nothing smartphones will receive it simultaneously​.

In the latest news, Smartprix has revealed the complete changelog of Nothing OS 3.0 Beta update (on the Nothing Phone (2a)) along with videos showing the new boot animation.

Changelog:

• Effortlessly tailor your shortcuts via the all-new Quick Settings.
• Refreshed the Clock face design of the lock screen, allowing you to enter the customization page by long-pressing the lock screen.
• Added option to reset the home screen layout to Nothing’s default style with a tap on the top-right button on the customization page.
• Added support for auto-archive function to automatically free up storage space without removing apps or data from your device.
• Set up partial screen sharing, so you can record just an app window rather than the entire screen.
• Refreshed Settings interface design for a more intuitive user experience.
• Updated setup wizard to version 3.0 for smoother introduction.
• Enabled predictive back animations for apps that have opted in.

Camera enhancements:

• Optimized portrait effects by fine-tuning blur intensity based on face size.
• Boosted camera performance in low-light environments.
• Removed vertical stripes in front video and time-lapse modes.
• Smoothened user interface after countdown photos.
• Regulated zoom slider display.

Other improvements:

• Optimized design of fingerprint unlock dialog.
• Refined gesture navigation on home screen for better sensitivity.
• Extended standby time by Network Power Save Mode. Updated security patch to September.

( Source: 1, 2)

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Ahead of the expected release of the Nothing Phone (2a) Community Edition, details about the upcoming Nothing OS 3.0 update have surfaced, courtesy of Carl Pei, the CEO himself.

He shared a few new things Nothing is planning to bring on its third iteration of the operating system. This will include a choice to select from multiple lock screen options. 

The default layout shows only the time, date, and day on the lock screen. However, it will be accompanied by two new customizable options on the Nothing OS 3.0.

The first is the “Clock + Widget” option that will allow users to add three widgets—weather, quick actions, and date—in the lock screen alongside a digital clock made of dots.

For those seeking a more information-dense experience, there will be a second option called “Expanded Widget Area.” It will show an analog clock with a large date tile, along with widgets for quick actions, weather, and contacts.

Beyond lock screen customization, Pei also hinted at an “Interactive Dot Animation” feature. Although details are scarce, the image shared by Pei reveals it will include three layers—input image, live interaction, and final output—suggesting dynamic animations within the user interface.

The update is also expected to introduce a revamped native gallery app and a dedicated community app.

Nothing OS 3.0 will be available for the Nothing Phone (1), Nothing Phone (2), and the upcoming Phone (2a). The latest reveal by the man himself aligns with Pei’s usual strategy of using social media platforms to generate buzz for upcoming products.

Carl Pei has also confirmed that the official announcement for Nothing OS 3.0 is slated for September. These initial leaks or teasers, whatever you prefer to call them, give us an idea of what can we expect with Nothing OS 3.0.

(Source)

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