The Nothing Phone 2 is a great smartphone with some neat but not very useful lights on the back. As Android 14 testing is underway, though, the Nothing Phone 2 is adding Google Calendar integration to its “Glyph” interface.
The “Glyph” lights on the back of Nothing Phone (2) serve a handful of purposes, such as a visual representation of ringtones, as well as to show charging status and more. One of the lights also features additional control, which can tie into Uber or a timer to show how much time is remaining.
Now, that’s set to expand.
Top comment by Omega192
Even with these additions this whole glyph thing strikes me as more flashy than useful. If I flip my phone face down it's because I don't want it disrupting me. Having lights on the back that give you less obvious and detailed info than the AOD on the front just doesn't seem worthwhile. At A Glance will tell me exactly how many minutes are left on a timer, until my next meeting, or a rideshare arrives and includes important details like the meeting room or license plate as well. With this glyph progress feature I'd have to flip the phone over just to see those so might as well just leave it face up to begin with. Definitely feels like a solution in search of a problem but I'm glad those that prefer flashy to utilitarian have an option that caters to them.
In Nothing OS 2.5, the company’s Android 14 skin that launched into beta last month, Nothing will be adding Google Calendar integration to the Phone (2)’s Glyph lighting.
The new feature was announced with Open Beta 2 of the new update and will allow the Phone (2) to show a 5-minute countdown on the rear light as upcoming events approach. It’s not mentioned if there are specific controls here, but it does seem like a pretty useful tool.
Glyph Progress integration for Google Calendar. Keep track of your upcoming events with a 5-minute countdown via the Glyph Interface.
Beyond that, Glyph is also adding more time presets for the timer, which can be started from the lockscreen, while another new animation will trigger anytime NFC is used (which seems fun).
Nothing further notes that its latest Android 14 beta adds Predictive Back gesture support to all of its own apps, allows for more customization to the double-tap gesture for the power button, and brings a few other tweaks. The full changelog is on Nothing’s website, and Beta 2 is available for download now.
More on Nothing:
- Nothing Phone (2) is now available at Amazon for $699
- Nothing OS 2.5 based on Android 14 goes into beta for Nothing Phone (2)
- Nothing’s CMF brand launches first products, including $69 smartwatch
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