As we’re a few months away from the official release of Android 15, many of its new features and changes have already been unveiled through developer previews and beta builds. Are you eager to discover what Android 15 has in store? Let’s dive into it!
Android 15 Preview
Accessibility
TalkBack now supports Braille displays using the HID standard over USB and secure Bluetooth, improving accessibility for users with visual impairments.
Camera and Media
Android 15 brings some significant changes and additions to camera and media functionalities. Firstly, it now invalidates any open direct or offload audio tracks when resource limits are reached, accommodating new track requests.
Additionally, apps targeting Android 15 must be either the top app or running an audio-related foreground service to request audio focus. In terms of camera controls, new extensions offer more control over hardware and algorithms on compatible devices. Users can now adjust HDR headroom to balance between SDR and HDR content. The introduction of the LoudnessCodecController API helps manage audio loudness inconsistencies across apps and content, following the CTA-2075 loudness standard.
Android 15 also introduces Low Light Boost, an auto-exposure mode available in both Camera 2 and the night mode camera extension. Furthermore, it extends support for virtual MIDI apps to control synthesizer apps as virtual MIDI 2.0 devices. Lastly, in Android 15, the Virtualizer class is deprecated in favor of Spatializer.
Connectivity
Android 15 enhances connectivity with new features and APIs. It expands platform support for satellite connectivity, introducing UI elements for a consistent user experience. Additionally, it aims to improve NFC experiences, making tap-to-pay smoother and more reliable, while still supporting Android’s NFC app ecosystem. Moreover, Android 15 introduces a new Wallet role, enabling tighter integration with the user’s preferred wallet app.
Core Functionality
Apps are now only taken out of the stopped state when users directly or indirectly interact with them. Additionally, when an app does enter the stopped state, any pending tasks it had are canceled. Secondly, a new foreground service type called mediaProcessing is introduced, specifically designed for tasks like transcoding media files. Lastly, for apps targeting Android 15, BOOT_COMPLETED receivers are restricted from starting certain types of foreground services, enhancing security and efficiency.
Developer Productivity and Tools
Developers can expect several new features and tools geared towards improving productivity. Firstly, there are significant enhancements to the PdfRenderer APIs, allowing for smoother handling of PDF files.
Additionally, developers gain more control over automatic language switching, enabling better localization for their apps. Android 15 also introduces granular line break controls in TextViews, enhancing text readability.
Moreover, the update includes the latest OpenJDK 17 improvements, ensuring compatibility with the newest Java features. Finally, OS-level support for app archiving simplifies the process for app stores to implement this feature, streamlining user experience.
Performance and Battery
Android 15 introduces the ApplicationStartInfo API, which offers valuable insights into app startup processes. This API provides detailed information such as startup state, time spent in launch phases, and the manner in which the Application class was instantiated. By leveraging this data, developers can optimize app performance and streamline the startup experience for users, ultimately leading to better efficiency and battery life.
Privacy
The ApplicationStartInfo API offers valuable insights into app startup, helping developers understand startup states, launch phase durations, and more. Secondly, the StorageStats.getAppBytesByDataType([type]) API provides detailed information on app storage usage, aiding developers in managing app size effectively.
Additionally, the introduction of the ProfilingManager class enables app-managed profiling, facilitating performance analysis and optimization. Furthermore, new SQLite APIs in Android 15 expose advanced features to address specific performance issues in database operations.
Lastly, updates to the Android Dynamic Performance Framework (ADPF) empower games and performance-intensive apps to optimize performance while efficiently managing power consumption, contributing to a smoother user experience.
Security
Android 15 introduces significant advancements in security, particularly in data protection measures. With the new E2eeContactKeysManager class, developers gain the capability to implement robust end-to-end encryption within their Android applications, ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive data.
Additionally, Android 15’s FileIntegrityManager now offers enhanced file security through the utilization of fs-verity, a feature embedded within the Linux kernel. This empowers developers to safeguard files against unauthorized alterations, thereby bolstering the integrity and security of files stored on Android devices. These enhancements underscore Android’s commitment to providing robust security features to protect user data and ensure a secure computing environment for Android users and developers alike.
User Experience
For the upcoming Android update, there will be significant changes and improvements in user experience, especially for apps targeting this version or higher. Firstly, there’s a focus on edge-to-edge enforcement, which may affect apps with UI elements near the screen’s edges if they don’t handle insets properly.
Additionally, the stable configuration now includes system bars for apps targeting Android 15 or above, altering how Configuration behaves. Furthermore, for apps targeting Android 15, the elegantTextHeight attribute defaults to true in TextViews, enhancing readability by using a more legible font.
Lastly, Android 15 introduces Improved Do Not Disturb rules, empowering apps to customize Attention Management rules using the AutomaticZenRule API, thereby enhancing the overall user experience. These changes underline Android’s commitment to improving usability and functionality for both users and developers.
As Android 15 brings a host of new features and improvements across various aspects, it’s essential for developers to stay updated and adapt their apps accordingly. Are you excited to explore these updates and enhance your app’s performance, security, and user experience for the latest Android version?