Alongside Intelligence and Simplicity, Google announced Digital Wellbeing as a third tentpole for Android Pie at I/O 2018. These features that help manage device usage won’t launch until this fall, but Google is opening up a beta for the Pixel and Pixel 2 starting today. The move towards creating a better relationship with technology is an industry-wide trend this year, with Google noting that over 70% of people it surveyed wanted more help balancing their “digital wellbeing.” YouTube was the first to launch these features, followed by Google Calendar, and Android Pie is following this fall. Dashboard Available in the Settings app, the new Digital Wellbeing section notes how long you’ve been using your phone everyday. A circular graph breaks down usage by app, while stats for the number of device unlocks and received notifications are available underneath. This hub notes “Ways to disconnect,” with the Dashboard view providing a more granular daily chart and list of time spent in every app. Next to each item is the ability to quickly set an App Timer. Back on the main page, you can set up Wind Down and determine whether it also enables grayscale and Do Not Disturb at night. There is also a section to “Reduce interruptions” by managing notifications. Coming soon App Timer The App Timer allows users to impose limits on daily application usage with Android “nudging” them via alerts when they’re close to meeting the restriction. Once hit, that app icon will be grayed out for the rest of the day. Wind Down This feature gets you ready for bed by turning on Night Light — which tints your screen amber — and enabling Do Not Disturb. Google at I/O even touted Assistant integration so users can tell their phones what time they want to “wind down” by, with Android Pie able to fade the device’s screen into grayscale to encourage them to put down a device. Availability Digital Wellbeing will officially launch in the fall starting on Pixel devices, with Android One and other Android Pie devices following “later this year.” Until then, Google is launching a beta for Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, and Pixel 2 XL devices running Android 9 Pie. Starting today, users can sign up by heading to this site and entering their Google Play account. A welcome email will feature a link to accept the invitation, with Digital Wellbeing features appearing in a device’s Settings app within 24 hours. Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news: FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news:<doc-sep>It isn’t enough to have great new devices, apps, and games — you also have to know how to use them. Here at The Verge, we offer step-by-step how-tos for experienced and new users who are working with online, macOS, Windows, Chrome OS, iOS, and Android apps, services, phones, laptops, and other tools. From simple instructions on how to install and use new devices, to little-known strategies on how to take advantage of hidden features and the best methods for adding power or storage, we’ve got your technological back. The various Digital Wellbeing features that Google revealed last spring — a dashboard to show your smartphone usage habits, app limit timers, and a “wind down” mode to help you focus on going to sleep — are not included in today’s release of Android 9 Pie. But if you have a Pixel device and you’ve already installed the latest OS update on it, you’ll be able to try out those software tools ahead of their official launch sometime this fall. The beta starts right now. Google says that trying out these Digital Wellbeing features does not require joining the Android beta program; you can continue running a stable version of Android 9 Pie while testing the Dashboard, app timers, and wind down. So that’s pretty great. To get started, follow these steps: Install the Android 9 Pie update when it’s available this afternoon Go to Google’s Digital Wellbeing Beta website Enter your email address and select “yes” on the “Do you have Android Pie on your Pixel?” question Soon after, you’ll get an email with an invite to begin testing digital wellness. Click the link in this email to accept the invite and begin testing. Google will ask you to download the Digital Wellness (beta) app from Google Play. (Note: this link will only work after you’ve gone through the signup steps. Within 24 hours of joining the beta, you’ll see digital wellness appear in your Android settings menu. Note that Digital Wellbeing is in beta until the fall, so you might run into some bugs and encounter some snags every now and then. According to Google, these software tools were designed with the goal of “giving you a complete picture of your digital habits and helping you disconnect when you want to.” Apple is also integrating similar features into its upcoming iOS 12 update, and social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram are also working on adding new sections to their apps that transparently show how much time we all spend using them. 2018 is certainly the year of technology self-reflection. But ultimately, these companies are just giving you the data; it’ll be up to you to make changes and adjust your device usage if you’re alarmed by what you see. Digital Wellbeing will launch first on the Pixel lineup this fall before expanding to Android One and other devices “later this year.”<doc-sep>Android 9 Pie's public launch is fresh and filled with tons of new features. But the biggest headline addition coming out of Google I/O earlier this year, Digital Wellbeing, isn't available right away. Google still has some more work to do before it releases the feature to all Pixel owners, but in a continued spirit of open testing is offering it up to those who want to sign up and use unfinished software. If you're okay with knowing that you're using software that's still a work in progress, here's how you can get the new Digital Wellbeing feature. It'll take some time to open up to everyone, but you'll still get it early. First, you need to have a Pixel phone that's been updated to Android 9 Pie. Google has announced that Android One devices will receive Digital Wellbeing at some point as well, but has not made any claim that it will come to non-Pixel devices beyond that. VPN Deals: Lifetime license for $16, monthly plans at $1 & more<doc-sep>
Android 9 Pie doesn’t really have any groundbreaking new features compared to older versions of Android, but one of its most exciting additions is a focus on “Digital Wellbeing.” This was explained in-depth back at Google I/O, but never appeared in Pie’s betas. Now, Google is opening a beta program for this feature, so here’s how to sign up. How to sign up for Android 9 Pie’s Digital Wellbeing Beta Install Android 9 Pie on your Pixel Visit Google’s Sign-Up Page Install The Digital Wellbeing Beta from Google Play To be clear, Google is only launching Digital Wellbeing’s beta program on Pixel devices. So while, eventually, this feature may expand to all Android devices running Pie and later, it’s only going to work on the Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, and Pixel 2 XL for now. 1. Install Android 9 Pie on your Pixel To get started with this beta program, you’ll first need to have Android 9 Pie actually installed on your device. To do that, you’ll either need to wait for the OTA which should be rolling out later today, or you can sideload it. We’ve got a handy Android Basics tutorial on how to sideload the OTA update on your device, so be sure to check that out if you’re feeling impatient. 2. Visit Google’s Sign-Up Page Once Android 9 Pie is installed on your device, you’ll next need to head over to Google’s sign-up page for the beta. On that page, you’ll simply need to input your email address and confirm that your Pixel device is running Android 9 Pie. Once you hit submit, it just turns into a waiting game. 3. Install The Digital Wellbeing Beta from Google Play The final step here is to actually install the Digital Wellbeing app from Google Play. Once you sign up for the beta, you can expect an email from Google with an invitation to download the app. Of course, you’ll only be able to do this on a Pixel device, but the process is fairly straightforward from that point on. If you have any questions, be sure to drop a comment below or hit me up on Twitter. Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news: FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news: