All signs point to Oct. 4 as the Android 12 release date ... maybe

3 years ago 274

Rumor has it, Android 12 volition deed today. Jack Wallen has yet to spot immoderate wide signs that's the case, but that's nary crushed to springiness up anticipation that your Pixel volition person the OTA update soon.

Back connected Sept. 12, XDA's Mishaal Rahman Tweeted an image that indicated Oct. 4 arsenic the authoritative merchandise of the Android 12 AOSP. He (and galore others) took that arsenic a hint the authoritative merchandise of Android 12 would besides travel connected that time (which happens to beryllium today).

Rahman past verified that tweet connected Sept. 30 to accidental a papers was released for endeavor devices that confirmed the Oct. 4 day for the Android 12 root codification release. The merchandise of the root should besides coincide with the merchandise of Android 12 for Pixel devices.

SEE: Electronic connection policy (TechRepublic Premium)

I woke up this greeting anxious to spot if immoderate of my Pixel devices had immoderate updates queued up. Sadly, my Pixel 5 informed maine my strategy was up to day astatine Beta 5. My Pixel 4 did person an update, but that was due to the fact that (since updating my Pixel 5 to Android 12 beta), I hadn't been utilizing the telephone arsenic often.

So, arsenic it stands, I've yet to spot immoderate impervious that today, Oct. 4, is the authoritative merchandise day for Android 12.

However, that doesn't mean it won't happen. Every clip an authoritative Android merchandise has been announced, I aftermath up excited astir installing it connected my devices, lone to beryllium disappointed Google's merchandise timepiece doesn't coincide with my interior alarm.

Thus, the waiting crippled begins. That waiting crippled tin get frustrating. So, I decided to instrumentality a measurement to spot if the Android AOSP for mentation 12 had been released. For those who don't know, the AOSP is the Android Open Source Project and marks the merchandise of the authoritative open-source codification of Android.

To bash this, I had to instal repo with the command:

sudo apt-get instal repo -y

Once installed, I configured git with:

git-config --global user.name USER git-config --global user.email EMAIL

Where USER is simply a existent sanction and EMAIL is simply a morganatic Google address.

Create a caller directory with:

mkdir WORKING_DIRECTORY

Change into the caller directory with:

cd WORKING_DIRECTORY

Update repo with:

repo init -u https://android.googlesource.com/platform/manifest

Check retired the maestro branch:

repo init -u https://android.googlesource.com/platform/manifest -b master

Finally, download the Android root with:

repo sync

The downloading of the root took immoderate time, truthful either look astatine the surface oregon measurement distant and instrumentality attraction of different task. For me, arsenic the root downloaded, I picked up my Pixel 5, went to Settings | System | System update and checked again.

Nothing.

So, I proceed writing.

If you don't person clip to download the full root tree, you could simply download the physique directory with:

git clone https://android.googlesource.com/platform/build

One of the things I've noticed with the beta releases of Android is that the OS is amended astatine automatically informing you there's an upgrade. I could pat the cheque fastener each 2nd of each time of an authoritative release, but the upgrade won't go disposable until Google is convinced my instrumentality is worthy of accepting each of its wonderment and magic.

SEE: Android 12 beta 3 present available, bringing the merchandise person to the Platform Stability milestone (TechRepublic)

And that's conscionable it, determination ever seems to beryllium immoderate benignant of magic going connected nether the surface. Google tin say, "Android 12 authoritative merchandise volition commencement rolling retired to Pixel devices connected Oct. 4, 2021, astatine 12:01 a.m.," but that doesn't warrant your instrumentality volition beryllium notified there's an update astatine 12:01. It could hap that day. It could hap the adjacent day. And nary 1 seems to cognize precisely however that peculiar spirit of magic works.

Still waiting for that root to download.

Eventually, successful the WORKING_DIRECTORY, you'll find a .repo subdirectory that contains yet different sub-directory, named platform. Issue the command:

less platform\build\core\version_defaults.mk | grep PLATFORM_SDK_VERSION

You should spot an indicator of the merchandise mentation you conscionable downloaded. As you tin see, successful the codification I downloaded (Figure A), the SDK is listed arsenic 30. That's Android 11. For Android 12 that would person been mentation 31.

Figure A

To beryllium fair, I downloaded that root astir 8:30 a.m. Eastern. At immoderate constituent during the day, the Android 12 root could beryllium made available, astatine which constituent the afloat merchandise for Android 12 volition follow.

Suffice it to say, the authoritative merchandise of Android 12 is upon us. I wouldn't beryllium amazed if my Pixel 5 popped up a informing contiguous to archer maine the update was acceptable to beryllium installed. If not today, my conjecture is it'll hap sometime this week.

Fingers crossed.

Subscribe to TechRepublic's How To Make Tech Work connected YouTube for each the latest tech proposal for concern pros from Jack Wallen.

5G and Mobile Enterprise Newsletter

5G networks and devices, mobile security, distant support, and the latest astir phones, tablets, and apps are immoderate of the topics we'll cover. Delivered Tuesdays and Fridays