Nothing OS’ latest iteration, OS 2.0, has been revealed alongside the Nothing Phone (2). The new custom skin brings a host of changes, features, and improvements to its smartphones. Nothing OS 2.0 focuses on fluidity and implements elements that enhance users’ productivity. It also introduces functional aesthetics throughout the UI. In this article, we delve into everything there is to know about Nothing’s latest custom skin update, including its release date, partnerships with other brands, new features, and more.
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Nothing OS 2.0 release timeline
Nothing OS 2.0, as confirmed by the company’s CEO Carl Pei, is set to start rolling out to Phone (1) users by the end of August. The new skin which is based on Android 13, comes pre-loaded on the Nothing Phone (2) which was launched on July 11th.
Software support is very important to us. Nothing OS 2.0 will be coming to Phone (1) users by the end of August.
— Carl Pei (@getpeid) June 13, 2023
Nothing OS 2.0 features
Here’s a quick look at all the new features Nothing OS 2.0 brings to the table.
New home screen widgets
Custom widgets are one of the most prominent additions to Nothing OS 2.0. Users will be able to choose from tons of distinct widgets and add them to the home screen for glancing through important stuff and getting things done without opening any apps. Among these is a step counter widget for keeping a tab on your daily steps. Besides that, the new skin also adds essential shortcuts to the home screen such as WiFi, Do Not Disturb, Glyph, torch, location, and many other toggles.
Lock screen widgets and shortcuts
Taking cues from iOS 16, Nothing OS 2.0 brings widgets and shortcuts to the lock screen which are presented in a linear manner. These widgets can be changed according to the user’s preference and will be visible even on Always On Display.
Home screen customisation
Apart from the widgets, Nothing Phone users on Nothing OS 2.0 can customise the home screen to their heart’s content by enabling themed icons and widgets, changing the app grid layout, adding an icon or emoji over folders, and turning on or off the app labels among other options.
The icon theming has been thoughtfully implemented as it applies themes even to those app icons which don’t support Google’s Monet theming.
Glyph Composer
Nothing has partnered with Swedish Media House to come up with a feature called ‘Glyph Composer’ which will allow users on Nothing OS 2.0 to create and customise new sounds and notifications. These custom sounds will simultaneously synchronise with the Glyph interface on the rear. The feature could be made available for third-party developers which will allow them to create custom Glyph lightings and sounds for both Nothing Phone (1) and Phone (2).
Swedish House Mafia ringtones
As part of the collaboration, the Swedish House Mafia, a music supergroup has developed custom ringtone packs for Nothing OS 2.0. These ringtones can be further altered using the Glyph Composer which makes use of large buttons to illuminate each part of the Glyph interface. This is further enhanced by the unique sounds that are generated upon tapping the buttons. Once the ringtone is composed, Nothing phone users will be able to set it as their default call ringtone.
Glyph related features
Here are several Glypth interface features that can be found on Nothing OS 2.0:
- Adjust intensity – Nothing OS 2.0 users will able to adjust the brightness of the Glyph interface.
- Flip to Glyph – Upon flipping the phone with the screen facing downwards, this will trigger the silent mode and only the Glyph lights will illuminate when receiving calls and notifications.
- Glyph timer – Made exclusively for Nothing Phone (2), with Glyph timer the top LED strip will show the timer’s progress in real-time.
- App-based Glyph notifications – Individuals can assign LEDs on the rear of Nothing Phones to important contacts and apps. Upon receiving notification from those apps or contacts, the LED will continue to light up until and unless the notification is removed or interacted with.
- Delivery progress – Nothing has partnered with Uber and Zomato to allow users to track their booked cabs and food deliveries by simply glancing at the top LED strip of the Glyph interface.
App cloner
With app cloner, users can create a duplicate version of an app and sign in with different accounts on both the original and cloned apps. Several Android skins already carry this feature.
App locker
As the name suggests, App locker will allow users to lock apps for maximum privacy. Once done, these apps can be unlocked only by entering a password or scanning the user’s fingerprint.
Internet speed meter
Just like many Android custom skins out there, Nothing OS 2.0 finally brings an option to toggle on the internet speed meter in the status bar. This will allow users to continuously know how fast or slow their internet is performing especially when downloading or uploading stuff.
Unique identity
The Nothing OS 2.0 has been developed with the aim to create an identity of its own, as hinted by the company through a tweet. Previously, Carl Pei highlighted that Nothing OS 1.0’s development was mostly outsourced which got vastly improved with Nothing OS 1.5 as the company started to develop an in-house software team. With the combined efforts of all software developers, Nothing OS 2.0 has brought several new aspects which will help it stand apart from the other mobile software skins in the market.
Improved fluidity
Nothing OS 2.0 vastly improves upon smoothness and fluidity. This is backed by the fact that Nothing has hired several ex-OnePlus employees to work on the software who are very familiar with making the software as smooth as possible.
Nothing OS 2.0 news
Nothing rolls out Nothing OS 2.0 for Phone (1) (August 28th)
After a long wait, Nothing has finally started Nothing OS 2.0 for Phone (1) users. Coming with a size of 0.97 GB, the update brings several features found on the Phone (2) such as homescreen customisation, custom widgets, Glyph Interface 2.0, and several visual and performance improvements.
To download the update, head over to Settings > System > System Update and tap on ‘Check for Updates’.
Nothing unveils Nothing OS 2.0 alongside Phone (2) (July 11th)
Nothing has finally unveiled the much-anticipated Nothing Phone (2) globally. While the phone boasts high-end specifications, another key highlight of the event was the company’s latest custom skin, Nothing OS 2.0 which comes pre-loaded on the Phone (2). The software adds several new customisation features and is expected to bring key improvements to the Nothing Phone (1).
