The Fourth Beta of Android 15

Posted by Matthew McCullough – VP of Product Administration, Android Developer

In the present day we’re bringing you Beta 4, the final scheduled replace in our Android 15 beta program, so be certain your apps are prepared and you have given us any essential suggestions earlier than non-beta customers begin getting Android 15.

That is our second Platform Stability launch; the developer APIs and all app-facing behaviors are last so that you can evaluate and combine into your apps, and apps concentrating on Android 15 could be made accessible in Google Play. Beta 4 consists of our newest fixes and optimizations, providing you with every thing it’s essential to full your testing. Head over to our Android 15 abstract web page for a listing of the options and habits adjustments we have been masking on this collection of weblog posts, or learn on for a few of the high adjustments to concentrate on.

Eliminated PNG-based emoji font

Android 15 removes the legacy PNG-based emoji font file (NotoColorEmojiLegacy.ttf) that means that some Android 15 units corresponding to Pixel will solely have the vector-based file. Starting with Android 13, the emoji font file utilized by the system emoji renderer modified from a PNG-based file to a vector primarily based file. We saved the outdated font file round in Android 13 and 14 for compatibility causes, in order that functions with their very own font renderers might proceed to make use of the outdated font till they have been capable of improve.

You possibly can select to adapt your app in quite a lot of methods:

• Use platform textual content rendering. You possibly can render textual content to a bitmap-backed Canvas and use that to get a uncooked picture if obligatory.

Get your apps, libraries, instruments, and sport engines prepared!

For those who develop an SDK, library, instrument, or sport engine, it is essential to organize any obligatory updates now to stop your downstream app and sport builders from being blocked by compatibility points and permit them to focus on the newest SDK options. Please let your builders know if updates are wanted to totally assist Android 15.

Testing your app includes putting in your manufacturing app utilizing Google Play or different means onto a tool or emulator operating Android 15 Beta 4. Work via all of your app’s flows and search for purposeful or UI points. Evaluate the habits adjustments to focus your testing. Every launch of Android incorporates platform adjustments that enhance privateness, safety, and total person expertise, and these adjustments can have an effect on your apps. Listed here are a number of adjustments to deal with that apply even in case you do not but goal Android 15:

• Assist for 16KB web page sizes – Starting with Android 15, Android helps units which can be configured to make use of a web page measurement of 16 KB. In case your app or library makes use of the NDK, both straight or not directly via an SDK, then you’ll probably have to rebuild your app for it to work on these units.

• Non-public house assist – Non-public house is a brand new function in Android 15 that lets customers create a separate house on their system the place they’ll preserve delicate apps away from prying eyes, underneath a further layer of authentication.

Bear in mind to completely train libraries and SDKs that your app is utilizing throughout your compatibility testing. It’s possible you’ll have to replace to present SDK variations or attain out to the developer for assist in case you encounter any points.

When you’ve revealed the Android 15-compatible model of your app, you can begin the course of to replace your app’s targetSdkVersion. Evaluate the habits adjustments that apply when your app targets Android 15 and use the compatibility framework to assist rapidly detect points.

Benefit from new platform options!

Transcend getting your app prepared and make the most of new options that may make your app stand out on Android 15 units:

• The font file for Chinese language, Japanese, and Korean (CJK) languages, NotoSansCJK, is now a variable font opening up new potentialities for artistic typography.

• The ApplicationStartInfo API helps present perception into app startup together with startup state, time spent in launch phases, how your app was began when your Utility class was instantiated, and extra.

• With partial display screen sharing customers can share or file simply an app window reasonably than your entire system display screen.

• Generated previews permit your app widget suppliers to generate RemoteViews which include live-content and correct system theming to make use of because the picker preview, as a substitute of a generic static useful resource.

In the present day’s beta launch has every thing it’s essential to check out Android 15 options, check your apps, and provides us suggestions. Now that we’re within the beta section, you may test right here to get details about enrolling your system; Enrolling supported Pixel units will ship this and future Android Beta updates over-the-air. These OTAs will start this night PDT. For those who don’t have a supported system, you may use the 64-bit system pictures with the Android Emulator in Android Studio. For those who’re already within the Android 14 QPR beta program on a supported system, you may routinely get up to date to Android 15 Beta 4.

For the very best growth expertise with Android 15, we suggest that you just use the newest model of Android Studio Koala. When you’re arrange, listed here are a few of the issues it is best to do:

• Attempt the brand new options and APIs – your suggestions is essential in the course of the early a part of the developer preview and beta program. Report points in our tracker on the suggestions web page.

• Check your present app for compatibility – study whether or not your app is affected by adjustments in Android 15; set up your app onto a tool or emulator operating Android 15 and extensively check it.

• Replace your app with the Android SDK Improve Assistant – The most recent Android Studio Koala Characteristic Drop launch now covers android 15 API adjustments and walks you thru the steps to improve your targetSdkVersion with the Android SDK Improve Assistant.

We’ll replace the beta system pictures and SDK repeatedly all through the rest of the Android 15 launch cycle. Learn extra right here.

For full data, go to the Android 15 developer web site.

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