Relating to the identify of the Android model, we're not within the scrumptious land of sweets, cookies and candies. Like most different software program, Google’s cellular working system now adopts a dry digital nickname, and we simply acquired the primary developer preview of Android 11.


Along with 5G help, Android 11 has additionally undergone substantial updates by way of safety, software features offered by means of APIs, and compatibility with current purposes. In fact, that is solely the primary developer preview, and once we enter the general public beta in Could, user-oriented options might grow to be extra attention-grabbing. The complete model won't be launched till the third quarter.

 Google’s schedule for Android 11. 


Methods to get the Android 11 developer preview

In case you are only a curious finish person and never an actual software developer, it's best to not attempt to set up the preview for now. On the one hand,  until  you are utilizing Android software builders a brand new API so as to add 11,  in any other case  you'll not see something new. It is advisable to erase every little thing on the system and refresh the system picture file.

Android 11 emulator on Home windows 10 (left), location permission solely as soon as (heart), telephone bubble (proper) 



When the Beta model drops in Could, customers will have the ability to set up Android 11 wirelessly with out refreshing the system picture. You additionally want Google Pixel 2 or greater, though you can too arrange the system in an emulator in your laptop (that is how we examined this text).

To put in the preview on a suitable telephone, it's essential to obtain the OS picture file and flash it to the system. You could find directions on this Google Builders web page.

New help for 5G

5G is all the fashion within the subject of science and know-how. As the primary supplier of worldwide net content material, units and browsers that entry the online, Google is concerned in 5G. Though its newest Pixel telephones don't but help 5G, you'll be able to positively change.

On the identical time, Android 11 (to this point) has added two 5G APIs that builders can use of their purposes: the dynamic metering API and the bandwidth estimator API. First, the app can present greater high quality video to unmetered 5G linked units. The second permits the system to find out the connection bandwidth, thereby saving the applying from performing its personal connection pace take a look at.

Neural Networks

If there's something near the recognition of 5G, it's AI and machine studying, and Android 11's help for neural networks coincides with this. Most AI machine studying is carried out on highly effective servers, however cellular working programs will permit purposes to make use of cellular {hardware} to run these computationally intensive operations.

Three new options will help builders obtain this objective: high quality of service API, reminiscence area API and prolonged quantitative help. The primary offers the required sources for operations, the second optimizes reminiscence operations for steady execution, and the third allows smaller and quicker computing fashions.

Privateness and safety

Whenever you permit the app to entry your location, microphone or digital camera, a brand new privateness possibility for the app is the "solely this time" possibility. One other main privateness safety measure includes storage permissions. Functions will have the ability to request batch permissions for a bunch of media information, in addition to new necessities for entry to root directories in inner and exterior storage.

Safety choices are enhanced by means of new help for biometrics utilizing the BiometricPrompt API, platform enhancements by means of the brand new "sterilizer", and new safe storage options (together with help for IDs (similar to cellular driver licenses)).

New display kind

Android 11 provides help for 2 new display sorts: pinhole and waterfall. The brand new API mainly permits builders to inform their app to make use of the digital camera's pinhole on sure telephones and show the sides on the waterfall display, as we see within the Oppo prototype beneath.

Oppo waterfall display prototype


 Notification bubble

For a very long time, Fb's Android purposes have offered persistent chat headers. Android 10 launched them to built-in purposes similar to telephone and messaging, and now every other software developer can add comparable options utilizing the brand new API. In case you are one of many individuals who cannot tolerate bubbles, the API requires the app to permit them to opt-in and let customers determine whether or not they need bubbles. The messaging app may also get a brand new notification bar devoted to ongoing conversations. Notification inline replies may also help inserting photos within the reply.

Digital camera and photograph updates

As its Pixel smartphones proceed to compete with the Apple iPhone for the perfect digital camera choices, it's no shock that Google has added extra digital camera and photograph help in Android 11. New options embody bokeh, decoder, HEIF animation drawable objects, native picture decoder, mute throughout seize, and HEIF drawable objects. The final one is a more practical different to the animated GIF operate.

Low latency possibility

With a purpose to help the Stadia on-line recreation platform and video streaming purposes, Android 11 provides low latency help to the brand new MediaCodec API. HDMI additionally offers new help for low latency mode, which may be very helpful to be used on exterior shows and TVs.

These are among the highlights of Android 11 primarily based on the primary developer preview. To offer builders with extra new instruments and comfort, because the working system is totally launched later this 12 months, we are going to after all see extra options for them and finish customers.