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Feature: Android 4.2 "Daydream" mode

Posted: , by Michael H.

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Feature: Android 4.2
One of the new features of Android 4.2 that hasn't gotten much mention recently is the new "Daydream" mode. It hasn't gotten much play because unlike the other major updates like the gesture keyboard, Daydream mode is a flashy extra, but it is quite a nice one. If you've gotten the Android 4.2 update, you'll find Daydream kind of hidden in Settings>Display>Daydream. 

It is essentially a screensaver, although it will only turn on under certain conditions. You can set your Android device to start Daydreaming either when the device is docked, when it is charging, or both. As the Daydream mode, users can choose between having the device display the clock, shifting colors, Google Currents headlines, or photos. 

The clock and colors are fairly basic (although the clock has a nice feature to set the display to a "very dim mode", which is great for a bedside table), but this may be the first interesting use of Google Currents that we've seen. Currents has always been somewhat overshadowed by other apps that do the same sort of thing like Flipboard, Pulse News, or Feedly. Unfortunately, we say it is an interesting use of Currents because it isn't exactly useful. While it is nice to see the headline scroll of Currents in Daydream, it isn't interactive at all, so you can't tap an interesting headline to jump into the story. So, the whole thing ends up feeling a bit pointless.

Photos can be displayed in two different modes, either a slideshow, or as a "photo table" (basically a collage). For either option, users can choose to show photos that are on the device, or select any or all of your Google+/Picasa photo albums to cycle through. That is a great option for anyone who uses Google+/Picasa, or keeps all of their photos on their Android device at all times. But, if you use Flickr, Facebook, or Instagram, and don't keep copies on your device, this feature won't really do much for you.

Overall, Daydream mode is a nice new feature, and we can see some pretty interesting potential there for offering more options, but it definitely feels like a first attempt, and there is a reason why the feature is a bit buried. We'd love to see more services be able to hook into it, and we'd love to see the displays be more interactive, especially with headlines. 


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1. nwright94 (unregistered) posted on 14 Nov 2012, 15:26 11 2

Now that is cool. Gonna love this feature when I get my Nexus 7 this Christmas :)

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2. ODabaja (unregistered) posted on 14 Nov 2012, 15:27 3 2

Cool, will definitely look into this on my Note II

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3. imkyle posted on 14 Nov 2012, 15:33 2 2

On the Galaxy Nexus its really unique.

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4. Aeires (unregistered) posted on 14 Nov 2012, 15:36 1 1

I was going to try this on my N7 (got the update this morning) until I remembered I moved all my wallpapers to Google Drive. Doh

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5. BadAssAbe posted on 14 Nov 2012, 15:38 8

Fail! Should be full screen with no on-screen buttons while daydream mode.
On-screen buttons cause a huge screen burn-in,
Really noitceable when watching a movie with the screen rotated upsidedown.

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6. squallz506 posted on 14 Nov 2012, 15:45 1 2

True dat

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7. MichaelHeller posted on 14 Nov 2012, 15:50 12 1

There are no on-screen buttons in daydream mode, just the very very faint grey dots that replace the buttons when you're doing stuff.

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9. BadAssAbe posted on 14 Nov 2012, 16:29 1 7

I'm talking about the huge black bar!
It leaves a huge black bar at the bottom.
I didnt known i would have to explain this to some in PA
If it was a amoled with no backlight in blacks then it might not be a problem. (I have heard of bad amoled burnin)

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10. Aeires (unregistered) posted on 14 Nov 2012, 16:33 3 1

So you're saying the black bar will burn in the screen? That's a new one for me, never heard of the color black causing screen burns.

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11. MichaelHeller posted on 14 Nov 2012, 16:43 12 1

Sorry, obviously I should have know that you were trying to say that a black bar somehow causes screen burn when you said "Should be full screen with no on-screen buttons while daydream mode.
On-screen buttons cause a huge screen burn-in"

How could I ever have misinterpreted that?

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14. BadAssAbe posted on 14 Nov 2012, 21:37 1 1

Look i was wrong to put onscreen buttons instead of bottom black bar but if this is a LCD screen, all blackbars will leave a burnin.
I dont know about AMOLED

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15. AWiseGuy posted on 14 Nov 2012, 23:04 2 1

It's an LCD screen. Why didn't you just look that up? You're on a site where you are all of a couple clicks away from that info. It's also all over the internet, including other tech sites and Wikipedia.

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12. imkyle posted on 14 Nov 2012, 19:58 1 2

Shut the f**k up. Leave PA.

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8. loki1717 posted on 14 Nov 2012, 15:52 5 1

This is very similar to a function of the HP Touchpad when placed on the touchstone.

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13. webOSlove posted on 14 Nov 2012, 21:02 3 1

Daydream mode? More like webOS Exhibition .... Matias Duarte is stealing little by little, but I honestly think its good. This proves that webOS was an amazing product, and all it needed was proper care.

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16. Jayray78 posted on 15 Nov 2012, 07:49

"when docked" Did I miss something? When did the N7 get a dock?

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17. jtbrown3 posted on 19 Nov 2012, 21:30

One BIG issue with the Daydream feature is that LED notifications are automatically turned 'off' while Daydream is active. If it wern't for this bug, Daydream would be an otherwise excellent 'screensaver' . Fix this Google!

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18. catellie posted on 03 Dec 2012, 09:31

Try the WatchIt! daydream - it will show any notifications or toasts from any app, including the FULL text of the expanded notification when available. Very useful IMHO.

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