Since releasing Android 15 in September, the Android improvement group has been arduous at work on the subsequent main launch, and at this time it’s asserting the primary developer preview for Android 16.
In line with the group, this launch marks the beginning of a quicker launch cycle for Android APIs. Beforehand, the foremost API launch would occur in Q3, however subsequent yr it’ll occur in Q2. This higher aligns with the gadget launch schedule and can enable extra units to get the Android launch sooner, the group defined.
Because of the API being launched earlier, the Android group recommends builders do compatibility testing a number of months earlier to make sure apps are prepared in time.
After the Q2 launch, there will probably be one other main API launch in This fall that can embrace developer APIs and have updates, optimizations, and bug fixes, however gained’t embrace new conduct modifications 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 embrace incremental updates, the Android group defined.
By way of new options within the working system itself, new additions to Android on this developer preview embrace:
- The flexibility to embed the picture picker into an app’s view hierarchy, in order that customers can choose media with no need to offer an app with overly broad permissions
- Assist for well being information in Well being Join
- The newest model of the Privateness Sandbox on Android
The Android improvement group additionally shared that it hopes to realize platform stability by March 2025 to offer app builders loads of time to check their apps earlier than the ultimate launch, sometimes in late summer season or early fall.
