Android 11 finally arrived. On September 8, as it had anticipated in July 2020, Google began to release its new mobile operating system.
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According to the company, Android 11 will initially be available on Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi, OPPO and Realme phones, and in the coming months it will reach equipment from other manufacturers.
The operating system is simply called Android 11, continuing the tradition started with Android 10. In this way, Google continues to move away from names linked to candy, as it did in the past with Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop, KitKat or Jelly Bean, among others.
Grouped in innovations to manage conversations, administration and control of devices and privacy, Google reviewed 11 novelties of its new mobile operating system.
Conversations
- Conversations through messaging applications will be in a dedicated space in the notifications section, facilitating their administration in one place. The most relevant conversations can also be prioritized.
- The bubbles will allow you to respond to important conversations, without having to switch between what the user is doing on the screen and the messaging application.
- It has a built-in screen recording function, so an additional application will not be necessary to capture what is displayed on the phone.
Device control
- Offers centralized management of smart devices, simply by long pressing the power button, without the need to open multiple applications.
- It allows you to quickly change the device on which media files are played, for example, to bring music from headphones to speakers.
- Android Auto works wirelessly for all Android 11 phones, as long as it is used in a compatible vehicle.
Privacy and data
- It has unique permissions to grant one-time access to more sensitive functions such as microphone, camera, and location data.
- Android will automatically reset permissions for unused apps and notify the user.
- The phones will receive security and privacy patches as soon as they are available, without having to wait for a full operating system update.
- Android Enterprise users will receive privacy protections, allowing their devices to be reviewed by corporate IT departments without accessing their profile data.
Pixel users, with advantage
- Pixel 2 or higher phone users will get additional features to organize and manage the phone, such as app suggestions on the home screen based on daily routines.
Previous updates
Update July 8
On Wednesday, July 8, it was shown on a slide during a video for the company’s “Hey Google” Smart Home Summit , confirming that on September 8 it would release the Android 11 operating system.
At around 18 minutes, you can see the “Android 11 September 8 launch checklist” right at the top of the slide, when Google’s Michele Turner “we’re launching everywhere on September 8 ”When talking about Android 11.
Update March 19
Google released a second developer preview on Android 11 on Thursday March 19, here are some new things:
- 5G Health API: Developers can now quickly check if a user is currently connected on a new 5G radio or on a non-autonomous network.
- Hinge Angle for Folds: For folding phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip or Galaxy Fold, the new AndroidX API in Android 11 will allow developers to create experiences for hinge angles to help create more adaptive experiences.
- Improvements in the call detection service: These applications will now be able to report a reason for rejecting calls, as well as see if a call is being made from or to a number in the user’s contacts.
- Scoped storage updates: You can read more about scoped storage updates here .
- Synchronized IME Transitions: Google is introducing a new set of APIs that allow you to sync your application content with the onscreen keyboard and system bars while animating on and off the screen. Hopefully, this will allow developers to create more natural, intuitive and “jank-free” IME transitions. Take a look at the GIFs below to see it in action.
- Variable refresh rate – In Android 11, apps and games can now set a preferred frame rate for each window.
- Resume on restart
- Camera support in Android emulator
According to the company, the software will have among its main focuses the privacy of its users; support for waterfall screens, those with a built-in camera (“pinhole”) and for messaging applications with bubble-based chats.
Android 11 will also have among its objectives to optimize image decoding, camera functions, biometric protection, support for the 5G standard and the new generation of folding phones.
“This is just a first look. As in previous years, we will continue to share new features and updates over the coming months and at I / O (annual developer conference) as we work with your feedback, ”the Mountain View-based company added.
The “developer preview” is available for the Pixel 2, Pixel 3, 3a and Pixel 4 models, and is now available to download and install manually as a “system image”.
As the firm clarified, it is a “basic initial build only for developers and is not intended for daily use or consumer user, so we make it available only by manual download and flash.”
“With Android 11, we remain focused on helping users take advantage of the latest innovations, while continuing to keep privacy and security a priority. We have added multiple new features to help users manage access to sensitive files and data, and we have strengthened critical areas of the platform to keep the operating system robust and secure, “said Google.
February 2020
Just under six months after the official launch of Android 10, Google prematurely released the preview of its Android 11 operating system.
The firm used to wait until March to share the “developer preview” with developers, but this time it has done so on February 19, 2020.
“A hallmark of our approach is a strong developer community that provides thoughtful and early feedback, helping us deliver a strong platform for applications and games that delight billions of users around the world. So today, we released the first Android 11 developer preview and, building on the powerful feedback loop of 2019, we are making this year’s preview available to you sooner than ever, ” Google stated.