The Android team hasn’t really made an official announcement as to what dessert will be served next but we’re looking forward to partaking this new version of the mobile OS that we all love. We’ve featured the Android P first during Q4 last year when Nokia made it known to us that such would come to Nokia phones once available. We can’t say if it’s the Android Peppermint Pocky but we know some of its features including the ability to allow networks control LTE signal bars, notch integration, and call recording tone for future use.
The Android P Developer Preview was released and then quickly updated with secure DNS option and a native screenshot editor. So far, we know the Android P won’t allow idle apps to access device’s camera, will prevent idle apps from recording using device’s microphone, and may include ‘enhanced call blocking features’. Android P is also said to allow devices to be used as Bluetooth Keyboard or Mouse and block apps from sending unsecure internet traffic.
We’re also looking forward to a number of things including the updated navigation, pill button for swipe up gestures, and the ability to remember every Bluetooth device volume level. By now, you’ve probably seen the improved Android P navigation and user interface and know it may restrict apps from monitoring network activity.
Earlier this month, the Android P Beta was released as a smarter and simpler version. It is more open to the future and will bring more convenient ways to manage notifications. Even before the Android P Developer Preview 2 was announced, it already showed a dual notch option. We already noted how it will crash unresponsive apps and won’t show those ANR dialogs, as well as, bring automatic color mode to Pixel 2.
Android P definitely puts AI at the core of the OS. Your device can be smarter yet simpler as Android P Beta 2 is now ready. This includes the final Android P APIs, updated developer tools, and the latest system images. According to Google, commercial release of Android P will be in late summer but if you have a Pixel phone, you can enroll HERE. Beta 2 will be received by those who already have the Android P Beta 1 on their Pixel devices.
We can expect more from Android P Beta 2. Here are five important things we need to know about this version:
1. Machine Learning
Android P takes advantage of Adaptive Battery to prioritize system resources. This works well with Background Limits, Doze, and App Standby. Machine Learning also includes App Actions and Slices. App Actions improves app visibility and engagement while Slices help surface content in Google Search and the Google Assistant.
2. Simplicity
Anndroid P is easy to use. It delivers platform support for screens with display cutouts (read: notch) with the goal of an edge-to-edge experience. With Android P, you can easily manage the status bar height, separate content, and etc. Display cutout APIs will be shown so you can also made your own adjustments.
3. Improved Messaging
For apps that use messaging notifications, you can check the changes in MessagingStyle. You can edit them to be actionable and useful, add smart replies, show conversations, as well as, attach photos and stickers.
4. Security
Android P makes use of biometric sensors for authentication. The Android team made sure the experience is consistent across different apps and sensor types. There’s the BiometricPrompt API that brings a system-managed dialog that will prompt the user for supported authentication.
5. More APIs
The Android P adds new multi-camera APIs that will deliver bokeh, stereo vision, and zoom to dual cameras. For audio, Dynamics Processing API offers multi-stage access and multi-band dynamics processing effect. These can modify audio coming out of Android phones.
SOURCE: Android Developers Blog
