Android 15 gets satellite messaging, starts foldable cover app support

Android 15 continues its march towards launch with the Android 15 Developer Preview 2. Android 15 will not be out till round October, however the first preview shipped a month in the past. It is time for an additional one!

Android’s satellite tv for pc messaging help has been within the works for a couple of yr now, and it seems like Android 15 goes to launch the function for apps. The brand new OS is together with notifications and higher standing bar indicators for if you’re linked to area. A “NonTerrestrialNetwork” API will let apps know after they’re restricted to barely there satellite tv for pc connectivity. Google says Android 15 will let third-party SMS and MMS purposes faucet into the satellite tv for pc connectivity APIs, however enhanced messaging with RCS help might be restricted to “preloaded” purposes solely. It appears unbelievable that Google would not have public APIs for third-party RCS apps, however here is your affirmation that Android 15 will proceed locking out Play Retailer apps from RCS.

Android’s PDF help might be everywhere relying on what gadget you might have, so Android 15 is together with making some huge enhancements to the built-in PDF render. First it is going to find yourself as a module so it may be up to date by way of the Play Retailer. Google says this Android 15 model is getting “superior options reminiscent of rendering password-protected information, annotations, kind enhancing, looking out, and choice with copy.”

Flip phone-style foldables are upending the Android app ecosystem with tiny little screens which can be too small to work with regular Android apps, and Google is making an attempt to do one thing about them with Android 15. At the moment units just like the Motorola Razr and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, with ~3-inch-square entrance screens, are largely restricted to the packed-in apps.

For now it appears to be like like Google is just standardizing the opt-in flag, with a “cowl display screen help” property. Google says: “These screens are too small to be thought-about as suitable targets for Android apps to run on, however your app can opt-in to supporting them, making your app out there in additional locations.” As for how precisely a developer is meant to help a bunch of proprietary, ultra-tiny screens, it seems like Google is not prepared to assist with that but. Sooner or later, Android wants framework, IDE, and Play Retailer app itemizing help for canopy screens.

The second developer preview is out there in the present day for the Pixel 6, 7, 8, Fold, and Pixel Pill. There is no beta program but, so you will must seize a cable and flash it your self for those who’re on the secure Android model. As all the time, these early releases are simply low-level developer-facing additions (we skipped loads of font and SQL modifications). The thrilling new options—if there are any—ought to be introduced on Could 14 at Google I/O.