The first developer preview of Android 15 is available today, and we are looking at DP1 to find out what new features have been introduced.
With Android 15, we’re still working to create a platform that increases your productivity by enabling you to create better media experiences, reduce battery drain, optimize seamless app performance, and safeguard user security and privacy across the widest range of devices available.
With Android, your apps may benefit from top-tier technology, such as AI processing, powerful GPUs, stunning screens, and high-end cameras. Reaching high-value people is made possible by the growing desire for large-screen devices, such as tablets, foldables, and flippables. Android also promises to provide libraries and technology to enable your apps to utilize the most recent developments in artificial intelligence.
Your feedback on the QPR beta program and the Android 15 Developer Preview is crucial to Android’s ongoing development. Additional details on the preview, including Pixel downloads and thorough changelog documentation, can be found on the Android 15 developer site. As the release cycle progresses, we will have a ton more content to share; this preview is only the beginning. I sincerely appreciate your assistance in ensuring that Android is a platform that is user-friendly for all.
Protecting user privacy and security
Android is always developing solutions to optimize user security and privacy.
Privacy Sandbox on Android:
In Android 15, the Privacy Sandbox on Android has been elevated to extension level 10 within Android AD Services, incorporating the latest advancements. This effort is part of our ongoing work to develop innovative technologies that enhance user privacy and facilitate effective, personalized advertising experiences for mobile apps. For more details about the Privacy Sandbox on Android developer preview and beta programs, visit our website.
Health Connect:
Android 15 seamlessly integrates Android 14 extensions 10 around Health Connect by Android, establishing a secure and centralized platform for the management and sharing of app-collected health and fitness data. This update introduces support for new data types related to fitness, nutrition, and more.
File Integrity:
The FileIntegrityManager in Android 15 introduces new APIs that leverage the capabilities of the fs-verity feature in the Linux kernel. By utilizing fs-verity, files can now be safeguarded through custom cryptographic signatures, ensuring they remain untampered and uncorrupted. This enhancement significantly bolsters security, guarding against potential malware or unauthorized modifications that could compromise your app’s functionality or data.
Partial Screen Sharing:
Android 15 introduces support for partial screen sharing, allowing users to share or record specific app windows instead of the entire device screen. Initially featured in Android 14 QPR2, this functionality includes MediaProjection callbacks that empower your app to tailor the partial screen-sharing experience. It’s important to note that user consent is now a prerequisite for each MediaProjection capture session
Supporting Creators:
Android remains committed to providing access to tools and hardware that empower creators to realize their vision on the Android platform.
In-app Camera Controls:
Android 15 introduces new extensions that offer enhanced control over the camera hardware and its algorithms on supported devices:
- Low Light Enhancements: Developers now have the ability to exert control over boosting the brightness of the camera preview in low-light conditions.
- Advanced Flash Strength Adjustments: This feature enables precise control over the flash intensity in both SINGLE and TORCH modes while capturing images. Developers can finely tune the flash settings to achieve optimal results based on their specific requirements.
Virtual MIDI 2.0 Devices:
Imagine your phone can now easily connect to musical instruments like keyboards. Android 15 makes it possible for apps that create music to control other music-making apps on your phone, just like they would control a physical instrument.
Making Apps Better:
Android is always working to make the apps on your phone better. They focus on tools and programs that help app developers create high-quality and easy-to-use apps.
Making Games and Apps Faster and Smoother:
Android 15 has something called the Dynamic Performance Framework. It’s like giving your phone a boost for playing games or using apps that need a lot of power. Now, your phone can save energy when doing background tasks and adjust itself to handle different workloads more efficiently.
Making it Easier for App Makers:
For the people who create apps, Android 15 adds new tools that make their job easier. It’s like giving them better tools to build apps that work well and are secure. These tools get updated on many phones, so app creators can use the latest features when building apps for you.
These changes might seem technical, but they all add up to a better experience for you when using your phone and the apps on it.