After the last Android Developer Preview 2.1 minor update, Google has released the final Developer Preview build — Android 11 DP3. Just like previous DPs, this one is also exclusive to the Google Pixel series barring the first Pixel.
Word of advice: Developer Previews are intended for developers since they mostly include new APIs and system-level changes. That being said, it’s a fun experience, so go ahead and install Android 11 on your Pixel.
Along with the usual bug fixes, the latest Android 11 release includes a number of big features. Here is a rundown —
Android 11 DP3 New Features
User-centric Features
1. Resize Picture-in-Picture
In Android 11, users can resize the Picture-in-picture (PiP) floating window. For those who don’t know, a Pip floating window appears when you exit a video app like YouTube.
2. Dismiss sticky notifications
Some notifications don’t go away like notifications of apps running in the background. However, Android 11 is allowing users to dismiss all kinds of notifications. For instance, users will be able to hide the music player from the notification panel.
3. New buttons in the Recent Apps
The Recent apps section has two new options — Screenshot and Share. The first one takes a screenshot of the highlighted app while the latter brings the share page.
4. Undo closed apps
In Android 11 DP3, users can bring back an app after it has been swapped away or closed from the Recent Apps. One just needs to swipe down. However, the undo feature only works only for the last closed app.
Developer-centric Features
5. Wireless Debugging
Android 11 has added a Wireless Debugging option in the developer options. Users can simply pair your phone to a PC with a pairing code.
6. ADB Incremental
A feature that will allow faster installation of APKs through ADB. Google says developers can install 2GB+ APKs on Android devices up to 10x faster. Currently, the feature is only available on the Pixel 4 series; however, Google assures the Incremental File System that enables ADB incremental will be available on Android 11 devices, sooner or later.
7. App exit reasons updates
An Android 11 API enables developers to retrieve the reason why a particular app was exited, like was it a system crash, a force kill, or due to the user’s actions. The new Android 11 update adds the APIs according to the developer’s feedback.
So far, everything is going according to Google’s Android 11 timeline. Developer Preview 1 (DP1) arrived in February, followed by DP2 in March, and now, Android 11 DP3 is here.
This means Google will soon release Android 11 first beta. In other words, more Android devices will be able to try out the Android 11, thanks to the Android beta program.
