To the shock of many, yesterday, tech giant Google released a developer preview of the new Android 11 earlier than expected.
This is now available as system images for Google’s Pixel devices. Despite this early release, the latest Android updates are not available for regular users.
These initial releases are only meant for developers to have a feel for this new operating system. They can then tailor their applications towards enhancing the new features it possesses.
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Things To Look Forward Too in the Android 11
There are so many things to be excited about in Android 11. Some of which are mainstays from previous releases or an improvement on what has already begun.
Just as Dave Burke Google’s VP of Engineering said, “With Android 11, we are keeping our focus on helping users take advantage of the latest innovations while continuing to keep privacy and security a top priority.”
He went on to say that, “ we have added multiple new features to help users manage access to sensitive data and files, and we have hardened critical areas of the platform to keep the OS resilient and secure.
For developers, Android 11 has a ton of new capabilities for your apps, like enhancements for foldable and 5G, call-screening APIs, new media and camera capabilities, machine learning, and more.”
Therefore, there is much to look forward to from this new OS, but let‘s highlight a few as we move forward.
Security
There is an increasing focus on user security and privacy in the tech world. Thus, it is no surprise that Google has chose to improve privacy and security by adding some new features to the Android 11.
The OS will now include one-time permission for specific sensitive user data. It also allows a regulation on how data on external storage are handled with these new updates.
Google also intends to expand its support for biometrics for improved security.
Connectivity
As expected, the new operating system from Google comes with increased support for 5G technology. Following the 5G trend, the Android 11 comes with mandatory 5G features like a new bandwidth estimate API. It also has an API that checks if a connection is unmetered for higher-resolution.
Android 11 Screen Support
With the increasing trend of bezeless devices among smartphone developers, users will be happy to know that the Android 11 supports waterfall screens. This new feature covers the edges. Such that developers can now manage interactions at the corners with this new API, and Google is introducing.
Conversation/ Notification
With the Android 11 developers preview, developers can now control conversation experience even better. There is the new chat bubbles API for the operating system. Also, users will now be able to send images along with replies to messages right from their notification panel.
Updates
With the operating system, Google has given itself the ability to be able to update vital aspects of the OS in the future. This can occur even without the device manufacturer releasing a full OS update. It makes these updates available to users via it’s Google Play system. All these can happen because Google has expanded its Project Mainline lineup of updatable modules from 10 to 22.
By releasing the Android 11 developer preview earlier than expected, Google has given itself ample time to prepare for a full launch of this new operating system. Some of these updates are smaller additions to the OS. As time goes on, we expect to receive more releases and information from Google until the big launch of Android 11 to users in the Q3 of 2020. But for now, developers have a guide on what to expect from Android 11.
