Since releasing Android 15 in September, the Android improvement staff has been onerous at work on the following main launch, and right this moment it’s saying the primary developer preview for Android 16.
In response to the staff, this launch marks the beginning of a sooner launch cycle for Android APIs. Beforehand, the key API launch would occur in Q3, however subsequent yr it’ll occur in Q2. This higher aligns with the system launch schedule and can enable extra gadgets to get the Android launch sooner, the staff defined.
As a result of API being launched earlier, the Android staff recommends builders do compatibility testing just a few months earlier to make sure apps are prepared in time.
After the Q2 launch, there might be one other main API launch in This fall that may embody developer APIs and have updates, optimizations, and bug fixes, however received’t embody new conduct adjustments that will have an effect on apps.
Moreover, there’ll nonetheless be quarterly Android releases, and the Q1 and Q3 updates that come between the API releases will embody incremental updates, the Android staff defined.
When it comes to new options within the working system itself, new additions to Android on this developer preview embody:
- The flexibility to embed the picture picker into an app’s view hierarchy, in order that customers can choose media without having to supply an app with overly broad permissions
- Assist for well being information in Well being Join
- The most recent model of the Privateness Sandbox on Android
The Android improvement staff additionally shared that it hopes to realize platform stability by March 2025 to present app builders loads of time to check their apps earlier than the ultimate launch, usually in late summer season or early fall.
