Software has been one of the pillars of Nothing phones, and the brand continues to improve upon it. It’s not just the software experience — the rollout, too, has been impressive. Take Android 15 for example: Nothing was quick with the rollout and wrapped it up well before many other brands. One might say Nothing has a small portfolio of devices. That’s true, but still the brand is doing an excellent job, particularly when you look at brands like Tecno and Infinix, who have been struggling with the same for years.

Android 15 is almost done and dusted as Google is gearing up for the Android 16 release, which is confirmed to be released in June. Unfortunately, Nothing didn’t participate in the beta program this year. That means users might have to wait a little longer to get early access to the latest OS. Worse yet, one of the Nothing phones won’t get Android 16 at all — and that’s none other than the company’s first phone, Nothing Phone (1).

Related: Android 16 beta is available for these devices

Nothing Phone (1) says goodbye to OS updates

The Nothing Phone (1) marked the brand’s entry into the smartphone market. It was launched in 2022 with Android 12 out of the box. Nothing promised to offer three generations of Android updates — and it delivered. The final one, Android 15, was released earlier this year, marking the end of road for major OS updates for the Phone (1). However, the phone will still receive security patches for some time.

So, as per the company’s update policy, the Nothing Phone (1) isn’t eligible for future OS updates, including Android 16. Should these users upgrade to a newer model? Technically yes — but it might be worth holding off for now. Wait until the Android 16 rollout is fully underway to see if Nothing decides to surprise us with one additional upgrade for its first smartphone.

Also read:
1. Android 16: release date, eligible devices, and new features
2. Nothing phones that are eligible for Android 16 update

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Nothing has rolled out a major update for its Phone (1), integrating Google’s Circle to Search and critical security features. The 202MB Nothing OS V3.0-250218-1552 update is now available for download, delivering functional upgrades and performance optimizations.

Key Additions
The standout feature, Circle to Search, lets users instantly search any on-screen text, image, or video. Activation requires a long press on the Home button (3-button navigation) or the navigation bar (gesture mode). Enable it via Settings > Special features > Gestures > Navigation mode.

A new power-off password verification blocks unauthorized device shutdowns—crucial for lost or stolen phones. Users can enable this by searching “Power off verify” in Settings. The update also introduces fresh wallpapers for customization.

Performance Upgrades
The update improves Settings menu responsiveness, refines Quick Settings pull-down speed in landscape mode, and enhances stability for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and system performance. It also includes the February 2024 Android security patch. You can check out the complete changelog below.

Nothing OS V3.0-250218-1552 Changelog

New features

Circle to Search is available now. Initiate a search from any text, image, or video on your screen:

• 3-button navigation: Long-press the Home button
• Gesture navigation: Long-press the Navigation bar. (Ensure your Navigation bar is not hidden)

To enable the settings for Circle to Search, navigate to: Settings > Special features > Gestures > Navigation mode > Circle to Search

Added power-off password verification to prevent immediate power-off if your phone is lost. Path: Search ‘Power off verify’ in Settings.

Added new wallpapers.

General improvements

Improved responding speed of Settings.

Optimised Quick Settings pull-down speed in landscape mode.

Enhanced WiFi, Bluetooth, and system stability.

Updated to February security patch.

Installation
Download the update under Settings > System > System Updates. Users are urged to install immediately for optimized security and functionality.

For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.

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(Source)

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Phone-maker Nothing is stepping up its light show game! The company, known for its transparent back design and eye-catching LEDs, is opening up its signature Glyph Interface with a brand-new Developer Kit. That means software devs and companies can now create and sync custom LED light patterns that will directly integrate with their apps. 

Nothing Glyph Developer Kit

The kit is conveniently available on GitHub and provides all the necessary tools and instructions for developers to tap into the LED zones on the Nothing Phone (1) and the Phone (2).

For the Phone (1), developers can program 12 individual zones. The Phone (2) increases customization potential with a total of 33 programmable LED areas. Below is the image how Nothing is indexing zones of LED lights on both Phone (1) and Phone (2).

The Glyph Developer Kit from Nothing allows developers to fully make use of those fancy LED lights. The kit includes different methods like GlyphFrame, which identifies the Glyph to be used, as well as GlyphFrame.Builder and GlyphManager for controlling the Glyph Interface. Developers can use GlyphManager.Callback to confirm successful connections.

By using the Glyph Kit, developers can create apps with notifications that use unique patterns, or perhaps games that react to user actions. This could lead to a more immersive and enjoyable experience for users of Nothing phones.

The Glyph Developer Kit launch precedes the much-anticipated release of the Nothing Phone (2a). It’s highly likely that the new device will also use the Glyph Interface, with the company likely to add support for it in the Kit after the launch.

Developers interested in the toolkit can start working with it and sign up for notifications to receive API keys as soon as they become available.

Related:

• Nothing Phone (2a) Fake Press Render Suggests That Initial Leaks Were Right After All
• Nothing Phone (2) 512GB model goes on discount in India ahead of Phone (2a) launch
• Nothing Phone 2a leaked wallpapers surface, indicating imminent launch
• Nothing Phone (1) finally gets Android 14 update via Nothing OS 2.5

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The Nothing Phone (1) is finally receiving its official Android 14 update, bundled with the Nothing OS 2.5 release. This update follows a month of beta testing and brings a variety of new features to the device.

With Android 14, users can expect deeper customization options for wallpapers, themes, and other visual elements. Additionally, the update enhances the phone’s signature Glyph Interface interaction, provides streamlined gestures and shortcuts, expands Quick Settings functionality with more informative tiles, and offers new and improved widgets for the home screen.

Users can check for the update by navigating to their Phone (1)’s settings menu (Settings > System > System Update). It’s important to note that the rollout is gradual and may take a few days to reach all devices.

Here’s the complete changelog for the Nothing Phone (1) Android 14 update:

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(Via)

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Earlier this month, the Nothing Phone (1) received an early access update featuring Nothing OS 2.5, based on Android 14. As a delightful surprise ahead of Christmas, the brand has now introduced the Nothing OS 2.5 Open Beta program for users of the Phone (1).

For Phone (1) users, the arrival of Nothing OS 2.5, powered by Android 14, is a game-changer. The update brings a host of enhancements, and here’s a glimpse of what’s coming your way:

Customization:

• Redesigned a joint Home Screen and Lock Screen customization page for a more comprehensive view.
• Introduced the Atmosphere wallpaper effect, breathing life into your background photo with dynamic motion on both lock and home screens.
• Solid color wallpapers for a sleeker Home Screen appearance.
• Added a new monochrome color theme in the basic color section.

Gesture:

• Customizable double-press power button for quick access to a chosen feature.
• Expanded Lock Screen shortcut options, including Do Not Disturb, Mute, QR code scanner, and video camera.
• Capture screenshots swiftly with a three-finger swipe gesture.
• New screenshot editor and menu for advanced editing features and quick deletions.

New Widgets:

• Pedometer Widget: Keep track of your daily steps directly from your home screen.
• Media Player Widget: Control your music effortlessly while on the move.
• Screen Time Widget: Monitor and manage your daily screen time for a healthier digital lifestyle.

For Phone (1) users who participated in the closed beta program, the open beta brings quite a few improvements as listed below:

• Added a new Glyph animation for when NFC is being used.
• Improved the experience of Flip to Glyph.
• Optimised the experience of the Weather app and improved the notification of weather alerts.
• Refreshed the back gesture arrow visual to be more in line with Nothing’s style.
• Made it possible to set ringtone and notification sound volumes separately, with an updated volume control interface.
• Updated Quick Settings layout and support to show more devices icons.
• Improved the stability of the camera.
• Enhanced overall system stability for a more reliable and smooth experience.

To get involved, ensure your Nothing OS is up to date, download the necessary APK, navigate to Settings > System > Update to Beta version, and follow the prompts. Share your valuable feedback through Settings > System > Feedback or join the conversation at nothing.community.

However, a word of caution: as this is a Beta version, there’s a slight chance the test software may interfere with your data, potentially requiring a factory reset. It’s strongly advised to back up all your data before taking the plunge into the new software.

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Nothing‘s latest smartphone, the Nothing Phone (2) is currently on the second Open Beta test for its Android 14-based Nothing OS 2.5. The brand has now turned its attention to its predecessor.

The brand has started the Nothing OS 2.5 Closed Beta program for the Nothing Phone (1). The sad news is that participants have already been selected and the program is currently full. If you are one of the users who was selected for the program, you will soon receive the update which measures 1.22GB. As for the features coming with the update, you can check the changelog below.

Nothing OS 2.5 Closed Beta 1 Update changelog

Customization:

• Redesigned joint Home Screen and Lock Screen customization page.
• Improved edit wallpaper flow for a comprehensive view of options.
• Introduced new “Atmosphere” wallpaper effect for dynamic, color-motion backgrounds.
• Added new “Glass” wallpaper effect with a unique and special appearance.
• Solid color wallpapers introduced for a cleaner Home Screen look.
• Added a monochrome color theme in the basic color section.

Glyph Interface:

• Integrated Glyph Progress for Google Calendar with a 5-minute countdown.
• Glyph Timer now supports time presets for quick duration settings.
• Direct access to Glyph Timer from the lock screen without unlocking the device.
• Option to open Glyph Timer popup with a tap instead of holding.
• New Glyph animation when NFC is used.
• Improved logic of Flip to Glyph.

Gesture:

• Customizable double-press power button for quick access to chosen features.
• Additional Lock Screen shortcut options, including Do Not Disturb, Mute, QR code scanner, and video camera.
• Three-finger swipe gesture for quick screenshot capture.
• New screenshot editor and menu for advanced editing features and quick deletions.

More Improvements:

• Optimized Weather app experience with improved weather alert notifications.
• Predictive back animation and refreshed back gesture arrow visual in line with Nothing’s style.
• Separate settings for ringtone and notification sound volumes with an updated control interface.
• Updated Quick Settings layout with support for more device icons.
• Improved stability of the Camera.
• Enhanced overall system stability for a reliable and smooth experience.

If you were not selected for the beta program this time around, worry not, the Closed Beta 2 is expected to take place in late December or early January, so keep a lookout for that.

RELATED:

• Nothing’s CMF Watch app suffers from a security vulnerability: Report
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(Source)

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It’s been over a month, since Nothing Phone 2 featuring the Nothing OS 2 launched with some exciting hardware and software upgrades. Following last week’s confirmation, Nothing has started seeding the Nothing OS 2 update for the Nothing Phone (1). The new OS upgrade brings some pre-installed set of lock screen and home screen widgets and several other toggles as seen on this year’s flagship.

Must See: Is Nothing Phone 1 still worth buying?

Nothing’s CEO took to X.com (formerly Twitter) to announce the Nothing OS 2.0 update rollout on last year’s Nothing Phone 1. There are plenty of changes that are part of the latest update. Apart from the bigger changes, the update also packs some improvements that will elevate the user experience of the phone. Below is the official changelog:

Nothing OS 2.0 Features

Nothing OS 2.0

Phone (1), it’s your turn now. We are thrilled to introduce the Nothing OS 2.0, packed with exciting features, enhanced customization, and improved functionality. This changelog only contains the highlight features, but there are many areas in which we improved the Phone (1) software. A massive shoutout to the entire mobile development and test team working diligently to make Nothing OS 2.0 happen for Phone (1).

Homescreen customization

• New visual identity that feels unmistakably Nothing.
• Updated launcher grid layout, supporting the option to hide icon labels.
• More options for customizable folders, try out different layouts and folder covers by expanding the folder.

Nothing widgets

• Updated the design for the following widgets- Clock, Weather, Quick Look, Also introduced the new Quick Settings widget, allowing you to access settings even quicker.
• Widgets are now also available on lock screen and AOD.

Glyph Interface 2.0

• Essential notifications – allow your most important apps and contacts to leave a persistent Glyph, so you know at a glance if you have any important missed notifications.
• Glyph torch – Long press the Torch Quick Settings tile to light up the entire Glyph interface.

New Apps features

• Introduced Cloned app allowing you to operate multiple accounts in apps without having to log out.
• Introduced App Locker – protect your apps by requiring another unlock when attempting to open.

Other improvements

• Updated auto-brightness logic
• Many (and I do mean many) improvements to optimize your Phone (1) experience.

Related: Nothing OS 2.0.2a update fixing camera issues caused by previous Phone (2) update

The update is now rolling out and it weighs 0.97GB in size. Interested users can check for the update by heading over to the device’s Settings > About Menu > Check for Updates. Being a staggered update, it takes a couple of days to a few weeks for the update to reach each unit.

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The Nothing Phone (1) debuted running Nothing OS, a slightly modified version of stock Android 12. The software has been praised for being stripped-down and bloatware-free, relying mostly on Google’s apps. The startup has further improved the phone with a number of new features and upgrades. Now, the company led by Carl Pei has also announced the rollout of Nothing OS 2.0 for Phone (1) users.

Nothing OS 2.0 to bring new features and improvements

According to Nothing and Carl Pei, the Nothing Phone (1) will start picking up the Nothing OS 2.0 by the end of August. There’s no exact timeline yet. The new software should come with various new features but it may still be based on Android 13. Although Nothing has already initiated the Android 14 beta program for users, it appears unlikely that the company will release a stable build by the end of August. This possibility becomes even more apparent when considering that Phone (1) only received Android 13 in February 2023.

Nothing OS 2.0 is expected to bring a visual overhaul to the UI. Mladen M. Hoyss, Software Creative Director at Nothing, said in an Interview with XDA that the core concept of the new version is “functional aesthetics.” It apparently transforms large amounts of data into visually digestible representations. Hoyss says Nothing OS 2.0 combines the best aspects of Android to enhance accessibility and efficiency for users.

It is expected that the Nothing Phone (2), scheduled to launch in July, will run the Nothing OS 2.0 out of the box. Nothing recently hired several former OnePlus employees, apparently to ensure the new phone’s success. You might notice that the new version of Nothing’s custom skin takes some inspiration from OxygenOS, as 70% of the software team is allegedly from Carl Pei’s former venture.

RELATED:

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(Source)

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Nothing Phone (1), the first smartphone from the Nothing brand founded by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, released the first Open Beta build of Nothing OS 1.5 back in December.

After a brief period of testing, the company has now officially started rolling out the first stable build of the Nothing OS 1.5 based on the Android 13 operating system to the users of Nothing Phone (1).

According to reports from a number of users, the stable Android 13 update for the smartphone is available in the form of Nothing OS 1.5.2. It is around 157MB in size if the user is upgrading from the last public beta version, which is a very small size in comparison to the update from other brands.

The newer version of the software comes with the January 2023 Android security patch. This mark the first stable build of the Nothing OS 1.5 but the rollout may be limited to users who are Open Beta participants and the rollout for all the users should take place in the coming weeks unless it faces any issues and the company needs time to fix them.

Here’s the changelog for the new Nothing OS 1.5.2 based on the Android 13 operating system for the Nothing Phone (1):

• Weather app
  • New Nothing weather app
  • Tapping a weather widget on the home screen now directly opens the corresponding city in the app instead of opening a link.
• Customization
  • All new Glyph sound pack for more ringtone and notification sounds.
  • More color schemes are available from the wallpaper selector.
  • New collection of minimalist wallpapers.
  • Icons can match your background color to make your home screen look more consistent.
  • Lockscreen shortcut customizations. Create shortcuts for the camera, torch, device controls, and wallet.
• Improved experience
  • Easily switch data usage when using dual SIM with the improved network Quick Settings panel.
  • Automatically show the current network and display how much mobile data you have used in Quick Settings.
  • Directly scan a QR code in the Camera app. The scanner also appears as a shortcut in Quick Settings.
  • Select language preferences for different apps.
• Visual improvement
  • A New look for Media Control. Puts album artwork on full display with a wider set of music controls.
  • Improved volume settings panel. Allows granular volume control without unlocking the device.
  • Improved Game Mode light notifications. So there is less distraction when you are playing.
  • Smoother animations when transitioning the display between on and off.
  • More refined Camera app interface.
• Privacy and safety
  • Get an alert when an app accesses your clipboard. Cleared history after a period of time to prevent unwanted access.
  • Added Personal Safety app.
  • Better privacy protection, including Photo Picker, nearby Wi-Fi devices permission, and select media permission.
• System performance
  • Fingerprint unlock accuracy has improved by up to 12%.
  • App startup speed has increased by up to 71%.
  • Standby power consumption has improved by up to 50%.
  • Implemented a new self-repair feature to periodically delete unused system dumps and cache.
  • Increased system stability.
  • General bug fixes.

RELATED:

• Nothing Phone (2) Model Number, Launch Timeline, Key Specs Surface Online
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Carl Pei’s startup Nothing launched its first smartphone, the Nothing Phone (1) in July this year. Smartphone brands are known for launching new models every six months in major markets. In a recent tweet, Pei revealed that the “Nothing Phone (2) isn’t launching anytime soon.” He also shared some more information about the company’s plans in an interview with CNBC.

Pei revealed that the company is planning to expand its business in the US. He is said to be in early discussions with American carriers about launching a new phone in the country in the future. He said, “The reason why we didn’t launch in the U.S. is because you need a lot of additional technical support, to support all the carriers and their unique customizations that they need to make on top of Android. “We felt that we weren’t ready before.” He further said, “Now we are in discussions with some carriers in the U.S. to potentially launch a future product there,” 

Nothing generated $20 million in revenue in 2021. This year, the company aims to achieve a tenfold jump of $250 million. However, the company is still not making a profit. Pei said, “The goal is to be profitable in 2024. We are not profitable right now. And this year was made even harder due to the foreign currency exchange. We pay a lot of our COGS [cost of goods sold] in USD but we make money in pounds, in euros, in Indian rupees — so everything devalued against the USD.”

In the US, Nothing hopes to rival Apple. However, it will not be an easy task considering that Apple has a very strong hold in the US market.

Pei posted the above tweet after the interview with the publication was released. The company wants to focus more on the Phone (1) by putting out future updates, such as the Android 13 OS update. For those who are unaware, the company has released a closed beta version of Android 13 for the Phone (1). The open beta is expected to arrive later this month.

As far as sales are concerned, Nothing has achieved 500,000 shipments of the Phone (1). It has sold 600,000 Ear (1) and Ear (stick) units worldwide. 

RELATED:

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