Google is rolling out Android 15 Developer Preview 2 today ahead of the first beta next month. He continues to work on the many columns with more features that are taking shape in this release.
Android 15 adds “user interface elements to ensure a consistent user experience across the satellite connectivity landscape.” The system-level “Automatically connect to satellite” notification conveys how “You can send and receive messages without cellular or Wi-Fi” with a shortcut to “Open messages” or get more information. In the meantime, pay attention to the status bar icon on the right.
Speaking of Google Messages, “Android 15 provides support for SMS/MMS apps as well as preloaded RCS apps to use a satellite connection to send and receive messages.” Other apps will also be able to “detect when a device is connected to a satellite, giving them greater awareness of why full network services may be unavailable.”
Android 15 will also make the NFC touch payment experience “seamless and reliable”:
On supported devices, applications can request that the NfcAdapter enter Observe mode, where the device will listen but not respond to NFC readers, sending NFC objects to the application’s PollingFrame for processing. PollingFrame objects can be used for authorization before the first communication with an NFC reader, enabling a one-touch transaction in many cases.
Apps can now declare that they can run on small flippable home screens. Google says “these screens are too small to be considered compatible targets for running Android apps,” but they’re still giving developers the option.
In terms of security, Android 15 will allow apps to detect when they are being (screen) recorded and in turn notify users.
Google is giving developers more information about running apps, including “whether they’re running from a cold, warm, or hot state.” They can also find out if their app was launched from a “broadcast, content provider, job, backup, completed launch, alarm, or activity.”
Android 15 also gives developers more detailed information about app size, such as “apk file splits, AOT and acceleration-related code, dex metadata, libraries, and managed profiles.”
There is a new type of mediaProcessing Foreground Service to “perform long-running operations on media assets, such as converting media to different formats.” A future beta release will set the runtime limit to 6 hours.
Support for the CTA-2075 volume standard “will help you avoid audio volume inconsistencies and ensure users don’t have to constantly adjust the volume when switching between content.”
The system uses the known characteristics of the output devices (headphones, speaker) together with the loudness metadata available in AAC audio content to intelligently adjust audio volume and dynamic range compression levels.
Android 15 provides more options for apps that customize Do Not Disturb rules:
- Adding types to AutomaticZenRule, allowing the system to apply special treatment to some rules
- Adding an icon to AutomaticZenRule, which helps make mods more recognizable.
- Adding a triggerDescription string to the AutomaticZenRule that describes the conditions under which the rule should become active for the user
- Added ZenDeviceEffects to AutomaticZenRule, allowing rules to trigger things like grayscale, night mode, or background dimming
Android 15 DP2 provides an “early preview of significant improvements to the PdfRenderer API,” which are being moved to the main module for future updates to the Google Play system. This will allow applications to include password-protected file hashing, comments, form editing, search, select with copy, and other advanced features. Meanwhile, linearized PDF optimizations will speed up browsing and reduce resource usage.
Android 15 allows developers to control the HDR space when both SDR and HDR content appears:
The picture on the left shows the display with SDR content. The image on the right simulates the perceived space issues for SDR and HDR mixed content, which we can avoid by setting the desired space for HDR.
Android 15 Developer Preview 2 images are available for Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro, as well as Android Emulator.
DP2 (AP31.240223.016.A3) with the March 2024 security patch is still “for developers only and not intended for everyday or consumer use.”
After issues with the last release, Google no longer offers OTA images for manual upload. Instead, you can only flash the DP2 factory image. Those who already have DP1 on their phone/tablet will get the OTA on the device for DP2. If you need help, here’s our complete guide to installing Android 15.
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