It’s nonetheless exhausting to know this new world we’re in now, with Google again to releasing a number of variations of Android in a single 12 months, or not less than letting us check them. However that’s the story to finish 2024. We have now already put Android 16 on some Pixel gadgets in a primary developer preview and talked concerning the new options we found. To finish the 12 months, Google is releasing one other one, this time as Android 16 Developer Preview 2. Once more, it’s December and we’re already deep into testing Android 16.
For Android 16 DP2, Google says that the main target ought to be on the modifications they’ve made that have been “designed to boost the app expertise, enhance battery life, and increase efficiency whereas minimizing incompatibilities.” To make these enhancements, it positive feels like Google is making a number of backend tweaks to Android, most of that are developer-targeted. Issues like triggered profiling and job execution optimizations are part of this DP2 launch. You may learn extra about these modifications on the hyperlink under from the Android Builders Weblog.
In terms of belongings you would possibly discover as an Android 16 person, Google says that this DP2 and Android 16 will convey new controls over system haptics with haptic APIs, search inside cloud media suppliers via the picture picker, a brand new exercise depth information sort in Well being Join (that tracks how intense your actions are, clearly), and that’s principally it. That is only a new developer preview, so the main target proper now isn’t on any main platform modifications that you just would possibly see in each day use. Nevertheless, Google usually makes modifications we discover that aren’t listed of their weblog posts.
Easy methods to set up Android 16 Developer Preview 2: If you happen to have been already on Android 16 DP1, you’ll obtain DP2 as an over-the-air replace shortly. For individuals who didn’t tackle that first preview, you may be a part of the celebration by flashing manufacturing facility photos to your Pixel system. Since that is nonetheless a developer preview, Google isn’t recommending that you just try this simply but – that is actually only for builders to start out getting their apps prepared.
Right here is the construct data for this DP2 launch:
Launch date: December 18, 2024
Construct: BP21.241121.009
Emulator help: x86 (64-bit), ARM (v8-A)
Safety patch stage: December 2024
Google Play companies: 24.46.30
Android 16 Developer Preview 2 downloads: You will discover manufacturing facility photos to flash this primary construct right here. The OTA photos for Android 16 could be discovered right here.
In search of Android 16 Beta? Google remains to be planning to launch Android 16 Beta in January of 2025, so you might see it throughout the subsequent few weeks. At the moment, you’ll have the ability to enroll via the Android Beta Program web site.
If we discover something new, we’ll let you understand!
