Google has released the first Developer Preview of Android 15, giving developers an early glimpse into the future of the operating system. This year, the preview is starting in February, allowing developers more time to provide feedback and update their apps.
One of the key focuses of Android 15 is user privacy and security. The preview includes the latest versions of the Privacy Sandbox and Health Connect, which offer new features and data types related to fitness, nutrition, and more. There are also additions like partial screen sharing and Casting from Android 14 QPR2.
To enhance security, Android 15 introduces a new FileIntegrityManager with APIs that utilize the fs-verity feature in the Linux kernel. This feature allows files to be protected by custom cryptographic signatures, ensuring that they haven’t been tampered with or corrupted. This is crucial in protecting against potential malware and unauthorized modifications that could compromise app functionality and data.
In terms of supporting creators, Android 15 introduces In-app Camera Controls, providing developers with more control over the camera hardware and algorithms on supported devices. This gives them the ability to create more immersive and customized camera experiences.
To improve performance and quality, Google has introduced the Android Dynamic Performance Framework (ADPF) capabilities. These APIs allow performance-intensive apps, such as games, to interact more directly with the power and thermal systems of Android devices. This includes power-efficiency modes, reporting of GPU and CPU work durations, and thermal headroom thresholds for interpreting possible thermal throttling status.
In terms of developer productivity, Android 15 adds more OpenJDK APIs, offering quality-of-life improvements around NIO buffers, streams, security, and more. These enhancements aim to streamline the development process and make it easier for developers to create high-quality apps.
The Android 15 Developer Preview is currently available for selected Pixel devices and the Android Emulator. Developers who manually install the preview build will receive future updates over-the-air. It’s important to note that this preview is intended for developers only and not designed for daily or consumer use.
Overall, the Android 15 Developer Preview brings exciting new features and improvements to user privacy, security, and developer productivity. With the feedback and support from the developer community, Android 15 is poised to deliver a stable and robust operating system later this year.
An FAQ section based on the main topics and information presented in the article:
1. What is the focus of Android 15 Developer Preview?
– The focus of Android 15 Developer Preview is user privacy and security, as well as enhancing developer productivity.
2. What are some of the new features related to user privacy and security?
– The preview includes the latest versions of Privacy Sandbox and Health Connect, which offer new features and data types related to fitness, nutrition, and more. There are also additions like partial screen sharing and Casting from Android 14 QPR2.
3. How does Android 15 enhance security?
– Android 15 introduces a new FileIntegrityManager with APIs that utilize the fs-verity feature in the Linux kernel. This allows files to be protected by custom cryptographic signatures, ensuring that they haven’t been tampered with or corrupted.
4. How does Android 15 support creators?
– Android 15 introduces In-app Camera Controls, which provide developers with more control over the camera hardware and algorithms on supported devices. This allows them to create more immersive and customized camera experiences.
5. How does Android 15 improve performance and quality?
– Google has introduced the Android Dynamic Performance Framework (ADPF) capabilities, which allow performance-intensive apps, such as games, to interact more directly with the power and thermal systems of Android devices. This includes power-efficiency modes, reporting of GPU and CPU work durations, and thermal headroom thresholds.
6. What improvements are made to developer productivity in Android 15?
– Android 15 adds more OpenJDK APIs, offering quality-of-life improvements around NIO buffers, streams, security, and more. These enhancements aim to streamline the development process and make it easier for developers to create high-quality apps.
Definitions for key terms or jargon used within the article:
– Privacy Sandbox: A platform developed by Google aimed at enhancing user privacy while still supporting personalized advertising.
– fs-verity: A feature in the Linux kernel that allows files to be protected by custom cryptographic signatures, ensuring their integrity.
– In-app Camera Controls: A feature that gives developers more control over the camera hardware and algorithms on supported Android devices, allowing for more customized camera experiences.
Suggested related links to the main domain:
– developer.android.com (Android Developer website)
– android.com (Official website for Android)
– blog.google/products/android (Google’s official blog for Android updates)