Android 15 Developer Preview 2 was launched by Google on Thursday, permitting builders to check out an early model of the corporate’s subsequent main working system replace for Android smartphones. The second preview comes with a number of enhancements to present options in addition to new options that make the most of fashionable smartphone {hardware}, together with satellite tv for pc connectivity and foldable screens. Apps may even acquire new skills, resembling detecting when the display screen is being recorded. Most of those options are anticipated to be part of the primary open beta scheduled to reach subsequent month.
One of probably the most notable new options arriving with Android 15 might be satellite tv for pc connectivity. While producers might all the time construct in help for these options, the arrival of official help implies that the consumer interface for this characteristic ought to really feel extra cohesive throughout totally different satellite tv for pc networks — together with new UI parts resembling a standing bar icon and interactive notifications, whereas apps may also detect when a handset is linked to a satellite tv for pc and provide messaging providers.
Near discipline communication (NFC) help has been improved on units operating on Android 15, permitting smartphones to ‘observe’ or take heed to NFC readers with out responding to them. Meanwhile, Google will permit apps operating on Android 15 to find out when the display screen is being recorded, enabling them to stop probably delicate info from being proven on the display screen on the similar time — apps like Google Pay presently provide this performance when display screen recording is enabled on iOS.
Foldable smartphones — particularly clamshell-style handsets just like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra — presently provide manufacturer-optimised help for operating apps (or widgets) on the smaller exterior cowl display screen. With Android 15, software builders can declare a property that may allow using these apps on foldable telephones’ cowl screens, regardless of their small dimension, in response to Google.
With newly added help for the CTA-2075 loudness normal, Android 15 will allow loudness consistency throughout totally different content material sorts — because of this you will not be consistently reaching for the quantity buttons to regulate the quantity of your cellphone. The Settings app has additionally been up to date with a bit referred to as Audio sharing which can allow you to handle your Auracast (a brand new Bluetooth ‘broadcasting’ characteristic) classes.
Google may even permit builders to set a selected HDR headroom stage, permitting their apps to steadiness HDR and SDR content material, as a substitute of the elements of display screen exhibiting the previous overpowering the elements displaying SDR content material. You may even have the ability to configure the app archiving characteristic through the Settings app, selecting to archive or restore apps instantly through the Settings app.
All of those options are presently obtainable on the most recent model of Android 15 DP 2, and are anticipated to make their method to the general public beta releases which are scheduled to start rolling out in April. Some of those options may very well be additional improved, augmented, or eliminated in upcoming releases. A clearer concept of the Android 15 options is more likely to emerge when the software program reaches platform stability beginning in June, in response to the corporate’s schedule.
