Google has officially launched the first Android O Developer Preview, offering developers an early look at the next iteration of the world’s most popular mobile operating system. Available for manual download here, this preview focuses on stability, performance, and developer-centric improvements ahead of its full release later this year.
What’s New in Android O?
The preview includes system images for the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, and the Android Emulator, along with an emulator for testing Android Wear 2.0 on Android O. Unlike previous years, this initial preview is not available via the Android Beta Program, emphasizing its target audience: developers.
Key Features & APIs
Here’s a breakdown of the standout features in this early build:
1. Background Limits
Building on Android Nougat’s battery optimizations, Android O introduces stricter controls on background processes, including:
- Implicit broadcasts
- Background services
- Location updates
These changes aim to reduce battery drain and improve device performance.
2. Notification Channels
A game-changer for user control, this feature allows apps to categorize notifications into user-defined channels. Users can:
- Block specific channels
- Customize behavior per channel
This replaces the all-or-nothing approach of previous versions.
3. Autofill APIs
Users can now select a default autofill app (similar to choosing a keyboard app) for seamless form-filling across apps, including passwords and addresses.
4. Picture-in-Picture (PIP) Mode
Perfect for multitaskers, PIP lets users watch videos while using other apps. Developers can customize:
- Aspect ratio
- Interactive controls (e.g., play/pause)
5. Adaptive Icons
Icons now adapt to device-specific masks, ensuring consistency across launchers, shortcuts, and system UI.
6. Enhanced Connectivity
- Bluetooth: Support for high-quality audio codecs like Sony’s LDAC.
- Wi-Fi: Neighborhood Aware Networking (NAN) enables peer-to-peer communication without an access point.
- Telecom Framework: Improved interoperability for calling apps.
7. Performance Boosts
- AAudio API: A new low-latency audio API for pro audio apps.
- Java 8 Support: Includes the modern
java.timeAPI.
- Runtime Optimizations: Up to 2x faster performance in benchmarks.
8. WebView & Security
- Multiprocess mode enabled by default.
- Google Safe Browsing integration for URL verification.
Why This Matters for Developers
Google encourages developers to test their apps against Android O to ensure compatibility ahead of its official release. Feedback from this preview will shape the final version, with more details expected at Google I/O 2017 (May 17–19).
Final Thoughts
This preview underscores Google’s focus on battery efficiency, user control, and developer flexibility. While not yet consumer-ready, it offers a tantalizing glimpse into Android’s future. For developers, now is the time to experiment, optimize, and prepare for the next evolution of Android.
Next Steps: Download the preview, explore the 26.0.0 support library alpha, and submit feedback to Google.
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