After waiting for almost seven months, we now have some reliable information about the next major Android update, called Android P. Google has officially released the first developer preview of Android 9.0 along with details of the initial set of features and APIs it will bring to the masses.
It goes without saying that the Android P would be a big update with major visual changes. The feature set also includes support for atypical displays, such as the ones with the notch. The Developer Options section now has a setting to simulate cutout displays.
The updated operating system will prevent idle background apps from accessing the camera, microphone, and other SensorManager sensors to improve security. While backing up data, Android now does the encryption on the client device. Thus, the device’s PIN or password is required when restoring backups made on the device.
Android P also tries to improve its location detection capabilities by bringing support for Wi-Fi RTT (Round-Trip-Time). The technology allows compatible devices to know a users’ indoor location by measuring the distance from nearby access points.
With the multi-camera API, an Android P device can get streams from multiple physical cameras simultaneously. For instance, if a device has dual camera setup, innovative features can be created like seamless zoom, bokeh, stereo vision, etc.
Further, Android P now has built-in support for HDR VP9 Profile 2 which will allow users with HDR-compatible devices to enjoy HDR-enabled content in apps like YouTube, Google Play Movies, Netflix, etc.
How to download Android P Developer Preview?
As always, Android P DP1 is available Google devices including Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, and Pixel 2 XL. You can download and manually flash the compatible build for your device using this link.
Alternatively, you can load the preview build on the Android emulator to taste the new dessert. Unfortunately, Nexus devices have been left out this time.
Don’t forget the fact that these builds are intended for developer testing. And therefore, they might be unstable. So, it would wise to install them on a spare device.
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