UPDATE: 2024/04/03 15:30 EST BY SANUJ BHATIA
Article up to date to incorporate the options of Android 15 Developer Preview 2 and different rumored options.
Only some months after the official launch of Android 14, Google has already began testing the subsequent model, Android 15. The corporate launched the primary Android 15 Developer Preview in February 2024, and now the corporate has released the second model for supported Pixel gadgets. The brand new Developer Preview has given us a sneak peek at what’s to return earlier than the official announcement, which is predicted to be at Google I/O 2024.
Right here, we check out a few of the new options of Android 15, although it is possible that Google is hiding a number of options beneath the wraps for now — the corporate will most likely showcase all the brand new main options in a few months. Moreover, we’ll present directions on putting in the Developer Preview and listing the supported gadgets. So, with out additional ado, let’s start.
What’s Android 15 known as?
Google stopped utilizing inner codenames to advertise Android variations some time in the past, however they nonetheless use them internally. For example, Android 14 was dubbed “Upside Down Cake” for the letter U, and now, for the letter V, now we have Android 15, nicknamed “Vanilla Ice Cream.”
Nevertheless, the official brand for Android 15 does not resemble ice cream in any respect. As a substitute, it encompasses a triangular form outlined in inexperienced with the Android mascot sporting a “15” on its again. It seems to be gazing towards what appears to be a gate or the top of a bridge with stars on either side.
Android 15: New Options
Whereas Android 14 introduced vital modifications in comparison with Android 13, Android 15 seems to be extra of a modest replace, at the least at this stage. Google says Android 15 focuses on enhancing 4 areas throughout the OS: enhancing media experiences, minimizing battery impression, maximizing clean app efficiency, and defending person safety. Here is all the pieces new now we have present in Android 15 thus far:
Enhancing digital camera feed in third-party apps
Pocketnow / Jaime Rivera
Samsung Galaxy S24 is undeniably probably the greatest telephones proper now, however one characteristic that makes it stand out is that apps like Instagram and Snapchat can make the most of superior digital camera options — ones obtainable in the principle digital camera app, equivalent to Nitography and Tremendous HDR — inside social media apps. Nevertheless, on different Android smartphones, issues are very completely different on account of restricted digital camera controls obtainable to the social media apps.
With Android 15, Google is working to make digital camera controls higher for third-party apps by providing extra accessible APIs. Two new options have been added to the digital camera API: enhancements for low-light situations to enhance the brightness of digital camera previews and the power to regulate flash depth. Additional updates might introduce further enhancements
Partial display screen sharing
Android 15 will enable customers to file or share solely a particular app window or a portion of a display screen fairly than sharing the entire display screen. This characteristic debuted first on Google Pixel gadgets with Android 14, however will now be obtainable on different Android gadgets as properly with Android 15.
Excessive-High quality Webcam mode
With Android 14 QPR 1, Google launched a characteristic for Pixel telephones to make use of them as webcams, however the video high quality was common. Now, in Android 15, Google is including a brand new “Excessive-High quality Webcam mode” toggle to the display screen that considerably improves video high quality. The characteristic does devour extra energy and result in heating points, however it provides you the selection to toggle between higher or commonplace high quality.
Notification cooldown
Do you ever discover your telephone exploding with notifications throughout peak chatting occasions? Properly, Google’s coming to save lots of you as Android 15 introduces a helpful new characteristic known as “notification cooldown.” This characteristic lowers the notification quantity once you obtain a number of notifications from the identical app in fast succession.
The brightness slider now provides vibration suggestions
A minor however a noteworthy characteristic is that now, once you regulate the brightness slider, you will really feel a slight haptic suggestions. It is a delicate contact, however it reveals Google’s dedication to refining each {hardware} and software program for a extra polished Android expertise.
Common toggle to regulate keyboard vibrations
Android 15 introduces a brand new “keyboard vibration” setting whereby the person can disable vibrations for all of the keyboards put in in your telephone. When this setting is disabled, no keyboards will vibrate when tapped. Nevertheless, if enabled, customers can nonetheless handle vibration settings inside every keyboard app individually.
Foldables get new continuity options
Foldable gadgets have gotten more and more standard within the Android market, and Google has been fine-tuning the working system for large-screen foldables since Android 12L. Now, Android 15 brings in a helpful new continuity characteristic. Now you’ll be able to management what’s going to occur to the entrance display screen once you shut the foldable. You may select to have the entrance show activate everytime you fold your machine, have it turned on for particular apps like video games and movies, or just lock it each time you fold the display screen.
It’s value noting that Google can be testing a OnePlus Open-like characteristic whereby customers will be capable of proceed utilizing apps on the quilt display screen with a “swipe as much as proceed” gesture (by way of Mishaal Rahman). Nevertheless, this characteristic remains to be not obtainable in Android 15 Developer Preview 1.
App Archiving
In Android 15 Developer Preview 2, Google has additionally added assist for app archiving. As a substitute of uninstalling the app altogether, app archiving retains the important information, equivalent to information, login credentials, and extra. This lets you begin utilizing the app from the place you left off once you restore it. You may entry this characteristic within the App Data part of the app.
Satellite tv for pc Connectivity Assist
Android 15 Developer Preview 2 additionally provides assist for satellite tv for pc connectivity natively for the primary time. It contains new person interface components to point satellite tv for pc connection and makes the apps conscious concerning the satellite tv for pc connection, decreasing information utilization. Moreover, SMS/MMS and RCS messaging will now work over satellite tv for pc connections for sending and receiving messages.
Android Dynamic Efficiency Framework enhancements
Android 15 additionally improves the Android Efficiency Sturdiness Energy Framework (ADPF), including a brand new power-efficiency mode. This mode will enable the OS to cut back energy consumption by long-running background apps. Furthermore, the system can now report each GPU and CPU work durations, permitting Android to optimize CPU and GPU frequencies to raised deal with workload necessities.
Different Options
Android 15 additionally features a few different behind-the-scenes modifications. For instance, the brand new Well being Join API provides assist for extra fitness-related metrics equivalent to common step cadence, trans fat, and extra. Android 15 additionally helps the fs-verity characteristic within the Linux kernel, which means information can now be protected by customized cryptographic signatures, stopping any kind of file corruption. Moreover, Android 15 additionally provides assist for the most recent model of Privateness Sandbox.
Options That Aren’t Official But
Android 15 May Deliver Revamped Standing Bar
For years, the standing bar of Android — the highest bar that reveals issues like time, mobile connectivity, Wi-Fi, and extra — has remained the identical. With Android 15, Google may convey again pre-Android Lollipop like segmented design (by way of Android Authority) and likewise enable customers to show the battery proportion contained in the battery icon.
Android 15: Listing of Supported Gadgets
For now, Android 15 is simply obtainable for Google Pixel gadgets with Tensor chipsets. Whereas Google may broaden the Developer Preview program to gadgets from different manufacturers at a later stage, there isn’t any affirmation but. Proper now, you’ll be able to set up the primary Android Developer Preview solely on the next gadgets:
Android 15: Find out how to Set up
In contrast to the Android Beta program, which permits customers to enroll and obtain beta software program on their Pixel gadgets simply by signing up on the Android Beta website, putting in Developer Preview is a bit difficult. These previews are primarily for app builders and are fairly unstable for each day use. Nevertheless, should you’re eager on attempting Android 15, here is a simplified information:
First, allow USB debugging and OEM unlocking in your machine. Then, set up the Android Flash Instrument on Google Chrome in your desktop. As soon as arrange, go to this website and comply with these steps:
- Join your Pixel machine together with your desktop and permit ADB entry when the pop-up seems.
- Now click on “Add new machine,” choose your machine, and click on “Join.”
- Subsequent, in your telephone, allow “All the time enable from this laptop” and faucet “Enable.”
- Your Pixel ought to present up on the display screen. Now beneath standard builds, choose “Developer Preview.”
- Click on “Set up construct” after which “Verify.”
- Android 15 will probably be put in in your Pixel.
For a extra in-depth information, try the explainer from our sister-website Android Police masking the steps to Android 15 on Pixel gadgets in nice element.
When will Android 15 be launched?
At present, Google has solely launched the primary Developer Preview of Android 15. The corporate will launch one other Developer Preview subsequent month. And, as per the timeline shared by the corporate, the Android 15 beta is predicted to drop in mid-March, with the ultimate launch possible scheduled for later this 12 months, probably coinciding with the Pixel 9 occasion within the fall.
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