Android 15 continues its march towards launch with the Android 15 Developer Preview 2. Android 15 will not be out till round October, however the first preview shipped a month in the past. It is time for an additional one!
Android’s satellite tv for pc messaging assist has been within the works for a few yr now, and it seems like Android 15 goes to launch the function for apps. The brand new OS is together with notifications and higher standing bar indicators for once you’re linked to area. A “NonTerrestrialNetwork” API will let apps know after they’re restricted to barely there satellite tv for pc connectivity. Google says Android 15 will let third-party SMS and MMS purposes faucet into the satellite tv for pc connectivity APIs, however enhanced messaging with RCS assist will likely be restricted to “preloaded” purposes solely. It appears unbelievable that Google does not have public APIs for third-party RCS apps, however this is your affirmation that Android 15 will proceed locking out Play Retailer apps from RCS.
Android’s PDF assist will be everywhere relying on what system you have got, so Android 15 is together with making some massive enhancements to the built-in PDF render. First it will find yourself as a module so it may be up to date by way of the Play Retailer. Google says this Android 15 model is getting “superior options corresponding to rendering password-protected recordsdata, annotations, type modifying, looking, and choice with copy.”
Flip phone-style foldables are upending the Android app ecosystem with tiny little screens which can be too small to work with regular Android apps, and Google is attempting to do one thing about them with Android 15. Immediately gadgets just like the Motorola Razr and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, with ~3-inch-square entrance screens, are largely restricted to the packed-in apps.
For now it seems like Google is simply standardizing the opt-in flag, with a “cowl display assist” property. Google says: “These screens are too small to be thought-about as suitable targets for Android apps to run on, however your app can opt-in to supporting them, making your app accessible in additional locations.” As for how precisely a developer is meant to assist a bunch of proprietary, ultra-tiny screens, it seems like Google is not prepared to assist with that but. Sooner or later, Android wants framework, IDE, and Play Retailer app itemizing assist for canopy screens.
The second developer preview is out there at this time for the Pixel 6, 7, 8, Fold, and Pixel Pill. There is no beta program but, so you may must seize a cable and flash it your self if you happen to’re on the steady Android model. As at all times, these early releases are simply low-level developer-facing additions (we skipped a whole lot of font and SQL modifications). The thrilling new options—if there are any—needs to be introduced on Might 14 at Google I/O.