Android Can Adjust Phone Settings Automatically When Users Ride Buses Or Trains

Android will detect if the user is in public transportation (photo: dock. pexels)

JAKARTA - Google seems to be preparing a new feature on Android that will make traveling by public transportation more comfortable. This feature allows phones to detect when their users are on a bus or train, then automatically adjust device settings without manual interference.

For billions of people who depend on public transportation every day, this small change could be a significant increase in comfort.

So far, users who take public transportation usually do things spontaneously once they step into a crowded carriage or bus. Many immediately lower the volume so that video content or Reels doesn't disturb others, turn on the Do Not Disturb mode to prevent voice calls and notifications, or change several other arrangements so that the journey is calm.

This small routine is done almost every day and over the years, but Android seems to be trying to turn it into an automatic process.

In fact, Android phones have been able to recognize activities such as driving, thanks to a mix between motion sensors and Bluetooth connections. Existing Driving Mode can disable calls and notifications when someone is behind the wheel.

In theory, Android can use a similar mechanism to detect whether a person is in a public vehicle. However, until now, the operating system does not have the ability to detect transit' activity specifically, so users still have to adjust the settings manually.

These changes began to be seen from the latest findings of Shalizal Rahman, an analyst who often exposed Android's experimental features through the Android Canary version. He found indications that Android would add a new mode called 'Transiting'.

This mode is part of the Modes feature introduced on Android 15 QPR2, where users can create voice profiles and specific notifications that are active based on calendar schedules or events.

Different from ordinary modes that must be activated manually or automatically based on time, Transiting Modes appear to have a special trigger called while transiting'' that will work when the system detects that users are in public transport.

When activated, Transiting Mode will optimize the device so that the driving experience in public transportation becomes smoother. The opening sentence found in the code shows that Android will adjust the settings automatically.

In the demolition of the Android build, Rahman discovered a number of code strings that clearly refer to this new feature. However, complete details on how Transiting Mode works have not been revealed.

Initial speculation states that this feature allows users to set which apps are allowed to send notifications during travel, adjust voice behavior, or enable specific display settings.

For example, allowing dark mode to be active when the system detects users on public transportation, or hiding notification icons to reduce interference.

In addition, there is a possibility that this feature will work hand in hand with Motion Cues, a new feature Google designed to reduce motional motional drunkness when viewing screens on moving vehicles.

If Transiting Mode is also able to activate Motion Cues automatically, then the phone will be much more comfortable to use during a long journey.

Rahman estimates that Transiting Mode could launch at the earliest through the planned Android 16 QPR3 update in March. However, the certainty cannot be ascertained because the feature is still in the development stage and has not appeared in public previews. Clearer hints will likely appear when the beta QPR3 program starts.

So far, Google has not provided an official statement regarding Transiting Mode. But if its presence is correct, then this feature will be one of the small but meaningful steps for users who spend time on buses, trains, MRT, or LRT every day.

Through increasingly intelligent automation, Android has the potential to change the small routine that has been done manually into a much smoother and more intuitive experience.