Google is testing a new launch animation for the Gemini overlay with Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2. It also suggests the missing vibration is just a bug.
With Beta 2, the “Press & hold power button” gesture to launch Gemini stopped vibrating. The haptic feedback when accessing the Power menu remains, so this is most likely a bug for the Digital assistant option.
Google is now testing a new launch animation for the Gemini overlay. For users that have this A/B test, the vibration is back. Upon activation, your current screen starts to shrink.
When the black borders (which come in from all sides) reach their farthest point, the Gemini overlay starts to slide up with Share screen with Live, Ask about screen, and the Ask Gemini field, with its usual animation. At the same time, the window returns to its fullscreen interface and you can ask your question.
It looks nice on a device (and is completely smooth compared to the hard edges that briefly appear in the screen capture above), with the intended visual effect being how the physical borders of your display are shrinking. This is not widely rolled out and only appearing on one of our Pixel devices.
Besides this Gemini launch animation, Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 is also A/B testing a redesigned Pixel Launcher search field with AI Mode. It disappeared across all of my devices on Friday, but the new gradient ‘G’ logo is still there.
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