New options, how one can set up, and extra [Updated]

Just a few months after the official launch of Android 14, Google has already began testing the subsequent model, Android 15. The corporate launched the primary Android 15 Developer Preview in February 2024, and now the corporate has launched the second model for supported Pixel units. The brand new Developer Preview has given us a sneak peek at what’s to come back earlier than the official announcement, which is anticipated to be at Google I/O 2024.

Right here, we check out among the new options of Android 15, although it is seemingly that Google is hiding a number of options below the wraps for now — the corporate will in all probability showcase all the brand new main options in a few months. Moreover, we’ll present directions on putting in the Developer Preview and record the supported units. So, with out additional ado, let’s start.

What’s Android 15 referred to as?

Google stopped utilizing inside codenames to advertise Android variations some time in the past, however they nonetheless use them internally. As an example, Android 14 was dubbed “Upside Down Cake” for the letter U, and now, for the letter V, we now have Android 15, nicknamed “Vanilla Ice Cream.”

Nevertheless, the official brand for Android 15 does not resemble ice cream in any respect. As a substitute, it contains a triangular form outlined in inexperienced with the Android mascot sporting a “15” on its again. It seems to be gazing towards what appears to be a gate or the top of a bridge with stars on both sides.

Android 15: New Options

Whereas Android 14 introduced important modifications in comparison with Android 13, Android 15 seems to be extra of a modest replace, at the least at this stage. Google says Android 15 focuses on bettering 4 areas throughout the OS: bettering media experiences, minimizing battery influence, maximizing clean app efficiency, and defending person safety. Here is every part new we now have present in Android 15 thus far:

Bettering digicam feed in third-party apps

Pocketnow / Jaime Rivera

Samsung Galaxy S24 is undeniably among the finest telephones proper now, however one characteristic that makes it stand out is that apps like Instagram and Snapchat can make the most of superior digicam options — ones accessible in the primary digicam app, reminiscent of Nitography and Tremendous HDR — inside social media apps. Nevertheless, on different Android smartphones, issues are very completely different as a consequence of restricted digicam controls accessible to the social media apps.

With Android 15, Google is working to make digicam controls higher for third-party apps by providing extra accessible APIs. Two new options have been added to the digicam API: enhancements for low-light circumstances to enhance the brightness of digicam previews and the flexibility to regulate flash depth. Additional updates might introduce further enhancements

Partial display sharing

Android 15 will permit customers to report or share solely a particular app window or a portion of a display quite than sharing the entire display. This characteristic debuted first on Google Pixel units with Android 14, however will now be accessible on different Android units as properly with Android 15.

Excessive-High quality Webcam mode

With Android 14 QPR 1, Google launched a characteristic for Pixel telephones to make use of them as webcams, however the video high quality was common. Now, in Android 15, Google is including a brand new “Excessive-High quality Webcam mode” toggle to the display that considerably improves video high quality. The characteristic does devour extra energy and result in heating points, but it surely provides you the selection to toggle between higher or normal high quality.

Notification cooldown

Do you ever discover your cellphone exploding with notifications throughout peak chatting occasions? Properly, Google’s coming to save lots of you as Android 15 introduces a useful new characteristic referred to as “notification cooldown.” This characteristic lowers the notification quantity once you obtain a number of notifications from the identical app in fast succession.

The brightness slider now provides vibration suggestions

A minor however a noteworthy characteristic is that now, once you regulate the brightness slider, you may really feel a slight haptic suggestions. It is a refined contact, but it surely reveals Google’s dedication to refining each {hardware} and software program for a extra polished Android expertise.

Common toggle to regulate keyboard vibrations

Android 15 introduces a brand new “keyboard vibration” setting whereby the person can disable vibrations for all of the keyboards put in in your cellphone. When this setting is disabled, no keyboards will vibrate when tapped. Nevertheless, if enabled, customers can nonetheless handle vibration settings inside every keyboard app individually.

Foldables get new continuity options

Foldable units have gotten more and more well-liked within the Android market, and Google has been fine-tuning the working system for large-screen foldables since Android 12L. Now, Android 15 brings in a useful new continuity characteristic. Now you may management what is going to occur to the entrance display once you shut the foldable. You possibly can select to have the entrance show activate everytime you fold your machine, have it turned on for particular apps like video games and movies, or just lock it each time you fold the display.

It’s value noting that Google can also be testing a OnePlus Open-like characteristic whereby customers will be capable of proceed utilizing apps on the quilt display with a “swipe as much as proceed” gesture (by way of Mishaal Rahman). Nevertheless, this characteristic remains to be not accessible in Android 15 Developer Preview 1.

App Archiving

In Android 15 Developer Preview 2, Google has additionally added assist for app archiving. As a substitute of uninstalling the app altogether, app archiving retains the important knowledge, reminiscent of knowledge, login credentials, and extra. This lets you begin utilizing the app from the place you left off once you restore it. You possibly can entry this characteristic within the App Information part of the app.

Satellite tv for pc Connectivity Assist

Android 15 Developer Preview 2 additionally provides assist for satellite tv for pc connectivity natively for the primary time. It contains new person interface components to point satellite tv for pc connection and makes the apps conscious concerning the satellite tv for pc connection, lowering knowledge utilization. Moreover, SMS/MMS and RCS messaging will now work over satellite tv for pc connections for sending and receiving messages.

Android Dynamic Efficiency Framework enhancements

Android 15 additionally improves the Android Efficiency Sturdiness Energy Framework (ADPF), including a brand new power-efficiency mode. This mode will permit the OS to scale back energy consumption by long-running background apps. Furthermore, the system can now report each GPU and CPU work durations, permitting Android to optimize CPU and GPU frequencies to higher deal with workload necessities.

Different Options

Android 15 additionally features a few different behind-the-scenes modifications. For instance, the brand new Well being Join API provides assist for extra fitness-related metrics reminiscent of common step cadence, trans fat, and extra. Android 15 additionally helps the fs-verity characteristic within the Linux kernel, that means recordsdata can now be protected by customized cryptographic signatures, stopping any kind of file corruption. Moreover, Android 15 additionally provides assist for the most recent model of Privateness Sandbox.

Options That Aren’t Official But

Android 15 Might Carry Revamped Standing Bar

For years, the standing bar of Android — the highest bar that reveals issues like time, mobile connectivity, Wi-Fi, and extra — has remained the identical. With Android 15, Google may deliver again pre-Android Lollipop like segmented design (by way of Android Authority) and in addition permit customers to show the battery share contained in the battery icon.

Android 15: Record of Supported Units

For now, Android 15 is simply accessible for Google Pixel units with Tensor chipsets. Whereas Google may broaden the Developer Preview program to units from different manufacturers at a later stage, there isn’t a affirmation but. Proper now, you may set up the primary Android Developer Preview solely on the next units:

Android 15: Learn how to Set up

Not like the Android Beta program, which permits customers to enroll and obtain beta software program on their Pixel units simply by signing up on the Android Beta web site, putting in Developer Preview is a bit tough. These previews are primarily for app builders and are fairly unstable for every day use. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re eager on making an attempt Android 15, this is a simplified information:

First, allow USB debugging and OEM unlocking in your machine. Then, set up the Android Flash Device on Google Chrome in your desktop. As soon as arrange, go to this web site and comply with these steps:

1. Join your Pixel machine together with your desktop and permit ADB entry when the pop-up seems.
2. Now click on “Add new machine,” choose your machine, and click on “Join.”
3. Subsequent, in your cellphone, allow “All the time permit from this pc” and faucet “Permit.”
4. Your Pixel ought to present up on the display. Now below well-liked builds, choose “Developer Preview.”
5. Click on “Set up construct” after which “Affirm.”
6. Android 15 can be put in in your Pixel.

For a extra in-depth information, take a look at the explainer from our sister-website Android Police overlaying the steps to Android 15 on Pixel units in nice element.

When will Android 15 be launched?

At present, Google has solely launched the primary Developer Preview of Android 15. The corporate will launch one other Developer Preview subsequent month. And, as per the timeline shared by the corporate, the Android 15 beta is anticipated to drop in mid-March, with the ultimate launch seemingly scheduled for later this yr, probably coinciding with the Pixel 9 occasion within the fall.

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