Google has released an update to the Android 12 beta, and this third version adds several new features first promised at Google I/O in May. This beta version includes scrolling screenshots (finally!) ), the face-based auto-rotate feature Google previously mentioned, and the beginnings of the device search engine AppSearch get.

Beta 3 also features new APIs and SDKs for Android 12, which means the final release is on track and won't be long before it appears as the final release. If you have a Pixel running the previous beta, you can update via OTA now - my Pixel 5 just finished with that update. My Pixel 5 just finished with its update.

In its third blog post on the Android 12 beta, Google outlines the new features. Here are the highlights so you can start taking advantage of all that Android 12 has to offer.

The biggest change in Android 12 Beta 3 is the addition of scrolling screenshots, which Pixel users have long been asking for. Other Android manufacturers have added their own implementations to varying degrees, but it is good to finally see it in the Android codebase.

I don't have much to say about scrolling screenshots, except that they can capture far more of a conversation or article than what is displayed on the screen. I personally have never found it useful, but I know many people who do.

Another feature highlight found in Beta 3 is the enhanced auto-rotate functionality, especially the face-based auto-rotate feature. This is a feature we heard about a while back, where the Pixel uses the front camera to detect you lying in bed or on the couch so the phone doesn't annoyingly rotate, using AI to determine if you're horizontal or not.

Google is also talking about improving the speed and smoothness of auto-rotation overall (the software maker claims a 25% improvement). iPhone vs. top-class Android phones like the Galaxy S21 and OnePlus 9 Pro If you've ever compared them, you'll notice that iOS spins quickly and beautifully. Android can be clunky at times and can vary widely between the various models.

With Android's Private Compute Core (PCC), the auto-rotate data never leaves the phone; the PCC is an isolated part of the operating system, independent of the rest. This is to handle "spooky" AI functions without compromising security. Face-based auto-rotation is one such feature.

AppSearch is a local on-device search engine that indexes apps and features, making search quick, painless, and simple. Google encourages app developers to integrate AppSearch into their apps.

AppSearch can display specific parts of an app; if you've ever used an iPhone, this Android feature is similar to Spotlight. It is powerful, with full-text search capabilities, very efficient indexing, multilingual support, relevance ranking and surfacing.

There is much more to unpack in the third Android 12 beta, which I am still digging into. For example, Beta 3 has reduced visual conflicts when the microphone/camera privacy indicator is present. Device administrators can also prevent the camera and microphone from being disabled.

There is also a new gaming feature in Android 12 that allows users to download and play games as they are downloaded.

Android 12 is approaching the release candidate stage and will make its way to final release at the end of the summer. If you would like to install the Android 12 beta and have a spare supported device, you can find it here.