Android 15 continues its path to release with Android 15 Developer Preview 2.
Android 15 won't be available to the general public until around October, but the first preview was released a month ago. It's time for another one!
See also: YouTube TV: Multiview comes to iPhone and iPad
Android’s satellite messaging support has been in the works for about a year now, and it looks like Android 15 will introduce the feature for apps. The new operating system includes notifications and better status bar indicators when you’re connected to satellite. An API (Application Programming Interface) called “NonTerrestrialNetwork” will let apps know when they’re limited to satellite connectivity . Google says Android 15 will allow third-party SMS and MMS apps to leverage the satellite connectivity APIs, but the improved messaging with RCS support will be limited to “pre-installed” apps. It seems unlikely that Google has any public APIs for third-party apps for RCS, but here’s confirmation that Android 15 will continue to block Play Store apps from RCS.
Android's PDF support can vary greatly depending on the device you have, so Android 15 includes some big improvements to the built-in PDF viewer. Initially, it will be made part of a module so that it can be updated via the Play Store.
See also: Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile: Released on iPhone and iPad!
Google says this version of Android 15 will receive “advanced features like password-protected file viewing, comments, form editing, search, and select with copy.”
Foldable flip-style smartphones are disrupting the Android app ecosystem with tiny screens that are too small to run regular Android apps, and Google is trying to do something about that with Android 15. Today, devices like the Motorola Razr and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, with a screen front of about 3 inches, are mostly limited to pre-installed apps. For now, it looks like Google is simply making the “screen overlay support” feature an optional prototype flag.
See also: Watch the iPhone 15 ad for FaceID titled “Nice Try”
Google states: “These screens are too small to be considered compatible targets for apps to run Android apps, but your app can choose to support them, making your app available in more places.”
As for how exactly a developer should support a set of dedicated, tiny screens, it seems Google isn't ready to help with that yet. At this point, Android needs a framework, an IDE, and support for the Play Store's list of apps for screen overlays.
The second developer preview for the Pixel 6, 7, 8, Fold, and Pixel tablets is available today. There’s no beta program yet, so you’ll have to DOWNLOAD it manually. So all you’ll need is a cable and a little bit of porting if you’re on stable Android. As always, these early releases are low-level developer-focused additions (we skipped a lot of font and SQL changes). The exciting new features – if any – will be announced on May 14 at Google I/O.
Source: arstechnica
