Android 7.1.2 Features: Beta Brings Live Wallpaper And Fingerprint Gestures Update

The Android 7.1.2 Nougat beta software began hitting handsets earlier this week and users have already discovered several interesting features on the new Google software. One tweak to Android Nougat is that users can now set independent live wallpapers on their home screen or lockscreen.

Live wallpapers are animated or move as users move their devices. In previous Android versions to set a live wallpaper users had to have the same wallpaper on both the homescreen and lockscreen. Now users can set up different live wallpapers on either screen. Or users can set a still wallpaper on one screen and a live wallpaper on another. This is a welcomed development for many Android users.

To access live wallpapers, users must long press the home screen, select wallpapers and then and then select a live wallpaper. Keep in mind users must be running Android 7.1.2 to utilize this feature. The update is available only to select devices, including the Pixel and Pixel XL, the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X and the Pixel C tablet.

Meanwhile, the Nexus 5X will get the “swipe for notifications” gesture that was previously exclusive to the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones. The feature allows users to do a swipe down motion on the device’s fingerprint scanner in order to pull down the notifications bar. The feature is popular on the Pixel devices and many users of older Google models were disappointed when it wasn’t made available for their devices. Reports indicate the Nexus 6P may also get the feature.

Upon installing Android 7.1.2 Nougat onto the Nexus 5X, users can set up the “swipe for notifications” feature by accessing Settings > Moves.

Those with compatible devices can register for the Android Beta Program to receive the Android 7.1.2 Nougat wirelessly. Overall, this version is expected to be an incremental update addressing bugs from previous Nougat version