Android

Android 12: first developer preview launched, this is new

Google has launched the first developer preview of Android 12. With that, the company starts the test period for the new Android version. The first details in this developer preview are therefore also known. We’ll go through them with you in this article.

Android 12 developer preview

Google has launched the first developer version of Android 12. This is a first test version that is exclusively intended for app developers and not for the general public or curious testers. That should not spoil the fun because we are already learning some new functions of Android 12.

New features in Android 12

1. Even better notifications

One of the most important features of Android 11 was the new notification handling. These include those all-new chat bubbles, along with the ability to get rid of those annoying silent notification icons in your status bar, and more. But with Android 12, it looks like Google is going to start paying more attention to how quickly those apps can be opened from the notifications. Developers now get new tools to not only make notifications faster, but also give them a refreshed look with faster animations and smoother transitions.

2. Improved haptic feedback

The haptic feedback is generated by the vibration motor on a phone. This feedback gives a small vibration to indicate that you have started an action. Unfortunately, the haptic feedback differs per phone and Google now wants to get rid of that. Android 12 brings a new unified API that allows developers to take advantage of the built-in haptic feedback for things like audio feedback or spatial audio. Imagine your phone vibrates one way when you get a call, and another vibration when you receive an email notification. The feedback can also be used for games to simulate certain effects in the game with vibrations. It is now up to the developers to implement these features and to the phone manufacturers to provide uniform haptic feedback in their upcoming smartphones.

3. Faster updates!

You may have seen some new updates appear in the Play Store in recent months rather than being updated via the traditional ‘System Updates’ in the Settings. Google is extending this in Android 12 using Project Mainline. That that is a form in which security updates are rolled out through the Play Store.

These integrations allow specific parts of the operating system to be updated through the Play Store. This means that certain features or bug fixes no longer need to be collected in one larger system update. This allows Google to provide a more consistent update timeline for all Android devices, without waiting for the smartphone makers to get their business in order.

4. More smaller improvements

Android 12 brings new compatibility features to optimize apps for different screen sizes. This includes foldable smartphones, tablets and even Android TV.

There are some other new features coming up specially designed for developers, including the following:

  • Automatic media transcoding
  • Improved full screen gesture navigation
  • Privacy and security features
  • Enable or disable individual changes to test app compatibility

Android 12 timeline

A new Android version is always tested for several months on the basis of developer previews and beta versions. The latter versions can also be tested by consumers. That’s always Google Pixel owners and owners of other phones. Last year, these were phones from OPPO, Xiaomi, Poco, OnePlus and Realme. These manufacturers will then release their own betas and that will be sometime in the summer. The stable version of Android 12 will be launched in August or September.

Google has three developer previews, four betas, a release candidate and the final version planned for this year.

Android 12: first developer preview launched, this is new
  1. February: first developer preview
  2. March: second developer preview
  3. April: third developer preview
  4. May: first beta version
  5. June July: second and third beta version
  6. August: fourth beta version + release candidate + stable version

Get started with Android 12

Are you an app developer or do you dare to get started with this developer preview on your Pixel? You can then get started with the necessary downloads and the instructions for flashing the ROM on this page. The Android 12 Developer Preview only works on the Pixel 5, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 3, and Pixel 3 XL. You can leave feedback in the Android Beta Feedback app that comes with the preview.

More information about Android 12

For more information about Android 12, you can always visit our dedicated Android 12 page. We update this page regularly with new rumors, news, videos, tips, availability and more so it is useful to add the page to your favorites. This way you always have the latest Android 12 news at hand.

What do you think of the first Android 12 features that Google announced in the developer preview? What new features would you really like to see in the stable version of Android 12? Let us know in the comments at the bottom of this article.

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