GoKawiil
Tech News
Google has released Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 to supported Pixel devices, a smaller update than the previous beta but one that introduces meaningful refinements. The standout addition lets users control which notification and system icons appear in the status bar through a new settings menu, alongside a Voice Broadcast option added to Quick Settings.
Google's latest Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 introduces a new way to manage the 'Install unknown apps' permission, letting users choose between permanently allowing an app to sideload APKs or requiring approval each time. This replaces the old all-or-nothing toggle that previously granted permanent installation rights until manually revoked through a buried settings menu.
Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4, released over the weekend, introduces a new Settings menu option letting users control which icons appear in the status bar. The feature can be accessed via Settings > Notifications or Settings > System, offering separate toggles for notification icons and system icons like mute, vibration, and battery percentage.
Google's latest Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4, released last Friday, makes it far easier to use a voice-broadcasting feature on Pixel phones that lets people speak or stream audio to nearby Bluetooth LE Audio devices, similar to a personal PA system. The capability, previously called Voicecast and buried in Developer Settings, can now be turned on instantly via a Quick Settings tile, provided Bluetooth is enabled, and supports password protection to block unwanted listeners.
Google's Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 update for Pixel devices rolled out last week, but its official manual OTA download links are now returning 404 errors. Multiple Pixel testers on Reddit report being unable to download the full OTA package for days, with at least one user stuck in a reboot loop unable to recover their device. Google has not explained the cause of the broken links.