It seems like hardly any time has passed since we got the final build of Android 10, but that hasn't stopped Google from dropping the new Android 11 developer preview out of nowhere! Make no mistake though: this is a very early build and we will likely see many new features and UI tweaks before the final version, just as Android 10 changed a lot between beta 1 and the final release. We can expect more announcements at Google I/O.
We also have no idea when Android 11 will exit beta, though Google has given us a target for "Platform Stability" (more on this in a moment). This is planned for next June and Google has even provided a development timeline this time around! So that gives us some clue, at least.
This is a very early build and we will likely see many new features and UI tweaks before the final version.
Overview of Android 11 Developer Preview
Google stresses that this beta is not aimed at consumers, and even developers might find the changes here a little barebones. You'll find a detailed breakdown of what you can find below, but much of this will pertain only to select developers (there are a few features that will be useful for call screening apps, for example).
The key takeaways that should be on every developer's radar are:
- Bubbles are still coming
- Dedicated conversations section in the notification shade
- Copy and paste images between inline replies
- Dynamic meteredness API and bandwidth estimator API offer more information about 5G connections
- Scoped storage mandatory for apps targeting Android 11
- BiometricPrompt now supports authenticator types and levels of granularity
- "Breaking" changes in Android 11 have been made toggleable for easier testing and debugging
- ImageDecoder API now supports HEIF files
- Apps can send camera capture requests enabling bokeh mode
- Low-latency video-decoding
Even these features are somewhat niche and only likely to apply to a select few developers, for now at least.
Still, the sooner we can start playing around with new APIs and preparing for new rules and restrictions, the less of a headache we'll have in the long run. So thanks Google!
With that in mind, you'll find a more detailed breakdown of Android 11 beta for developers below.
Note: This post will be updated regularly as Google rolls out new betas.
Note: Check out the official post from Google here. You can also check out our list of features for users, here.
Detailed changes
Android 11's focus (at the moment) appears to be preparing for forthcoming infrastructure, software innovations, and hardware trends. That means preparing for 5G, foldable devices, and machine learning. And like Android 10, there will also be an increased focus on privacy and security.
Also read: Android 11 hands on and first impressions
That latter point means there are more new features designed to help users control app behavior and restrict access to sensitive data. It's all good stuff, but for devs it can mean reworking file systems and permissions.
5G
Android 11 brings updates to the current connectivity APIs. The bandwidth estimator API for example can now check downstream/upstream bandwidth without polling the network, which could be useful for managing downloads and updating progress bars. The dynamic meteredness API meanwhile will let developers check whether a connection is unmetered. This of course means that we can offer higher resolution streaming where appropriate, while also being mindful of user bank accounts.
Screen Types
One of the most useful updates from a UI perspective is the inclusion of new API to be used in conjunction with the current display cutout APIs. This is designed to support waterfall screen edges (so Samsung devices), to include insets and thereby to handle interactions (and prevent accidental swipes and taps). Seeing as the new S20 devices largely do away with the waterfall effect, this feature may be a case of too little too late, though it's worth noting that devices like the Huawei Mate X include a curved edge by necessity.
Also read: Android 11 will help prevent curved screens from breaking your apps
Notifications
Bubbles never quite made the leap to Android 10. They're available in this developer preview however, and will allow users to interact with messaging apps via floating chat heads (ala Facebook Messenger). Devs can play around with this by using the Bubbles API.
The notification shade now has a dedicated "conversations section," and inline replies now support copy and pasting from the clipboard. In this developer preview, image copy support is only available in Chrome, while image paste is only available in Gboard clipboard.
Also read: Exploring Android Q: Adding bubble notifications to your apps
Neural Networks API 1.3
The Neural Networks API allows computationally intensive ML operations to be run directly on Android devices. The latest update will add several new operations and controls: expanded quantization support, a memory domain API, and a quality of service API. For those that want to find out more, Google handily supplied some NDK sample code.
Privacy
Privacy is the big one, and Google is once again placing a lot of focus on this area.
One big update for developers is the one-time permission, which will allow users to accept a permission a single time only. This will require a few changes to the way you currently handle permissions, and more information is offered here.
Scoped storage will be mandatory for apps targeting Android 11.
Scoped storage has received a few updates, including opt-in raw file path access for media, batch edits for MediaStore, and updates to DocumentsUI. A more complete list can be found here. Scoped storage will be mandatory for apps targeting Android 11. Remember: users will be able to control access to shared files in the Photos, Videos, and Audio folders using new runtime permissions, and access to the Downloads folder will only be available via the systems file picker.
Security
The BiometricPrompt API will now support three authenticator types with different ratings: strong, weak, and device credential.
Google has increase the use of compiler-based sanitizers in security-critical components. This should result in a more secure Android 11, but it may produce repeatable bugs and crashes in apps that should be tested for. Google now offers a system image with HWASan to help devs find and fix memory leaks. A BlobstoreManager will make it easier for apps to safely share data blobs.
Android 11 will also offer support for the secure storage and retrieval of verifiable ID documents such as driving licenses. Google says it will provide more details on this feature soon, but it could mean we're really able to leave our wallets at home soon!
Google has also added 12 more updateable modules for Android, especially relating to privacy controls. The hope is that more OEMs will push these important updates out to users, resulting in greater security and consistency across the Android ecosystem. So don't ignore the changes!
Testing, debugging, and compatibility
Reportedly, developers told Google last year that it was hard preparing for Android 10 without a concrete deadline for final changes. No duh! To minimize this frustration with Android 11, Google has committed to "platform stability" by early next June. This update will include the final SDK and NDK APIs, along with any changes to internal APIs and system behavior.
Google has committed to "platform stability" by early next June.
To help smooth the transition from Android 10 to 11, Google has ensured most potentially app-breaking updates are toggleable. Devs can this way identify which new updates are causing compatibility issues, then turn those features off while they work on a fix. This will hopefully make it quicker to get your apps onto new devices, as you won't need to constantly toy around with targetSdkVersion or recompiling.
Google has also updated the lists of restricted non-SDK interfaces, and provided a public API for loading resources and assets dynamically at runtime.
Connectivity in Android 11 Developer Preview
If you own a call-screening app, you will now be able to retrieve the STIR/SHAKEN verification status of incoming calls, and customize system-provided post call screens that allow users to easily mark calls as spam and take other actions.
The Wi-Fi suggestions API has new features for WiFi management apps and other tools. For instance, devs can now force disconnections by removing network suggestions, and gain more detailed information about connection quality.
Passpoint enhancements will enforce and notify the expiration of Passport profiles. The Wi-Fi suggestions API now includes the option to manage Passpoint networks.
Camera
ImageDecoder API now supports decoding and rendering image sequence animations from HEIF files, thus allowing the use of high quality assets with minimal impact on network data/APK sizes. Using decodeDrawable on a HEIF source will let devs show the highly efficient HEIF image sequences in apps, just like GIFs. Where the source contains an image sequence, an AnimatedImageDrawable will be returned.
The Native Image Decoder API for NDK will support encoding and decoding image files from native code for graphics and post-processing. This removes the need for external libraries, keeping APK sizes down.
ImageDecoder API now supports decoding and rendering image sequence animations from HEIF files.
New APIs also allow developers to mute vibrations and notifications during active recording sessions. Metadata tags will now allow bokeh modes for camera capture requests on compatible devices.
Media Streaming
Low-latency video decoding in MediaCodec returns the first frame of a stream as soon as it is ready; a critical feature for services like Google's own Stadia. New API features allow apps to check and configure low-latency playback for specific codecs.
HDMI low-latency mode
Time to get testing!
Some additional features and upgrades will prove useful for users, but may not have a huge impact on developers. For example, dark theme can now be set to change automatically based on time of day. And baked-in screen recording is once again meant to be making its way into our pockets, which could be useful for bug testing and marketing.
As usual, developers can try this preview by flashing the device system image (get it here) onto a compatible device, or by installing it through the Android Emulator in Android Studio (Canary channel). The latter option also includes experimental support for ARM 32-bit and 64-bit binary app code running on 64-bit x86 Android Emulator system images.
Read also: Android 11 release date: when can you expect it to launch?
So what do you make of all this? Do any of these features benefit your apps? What else would you like to see in future betas?
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