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’s time for one more one!

Android’s satellite messaging support has been within the works for a couple of 12 months now, and it seems like Android 15 goes to launch the characteristic for apps. The new OS is together with notifications and higher standing bar indicators for if you’re related to area. A “NonTerrestrialNetwork” API will let apps know once they’re restricted to barely there satellite connectivity. Google says Android 15 will let third-party SMS and MMS functions faucet into the satellite connectivity APIs, however enhanced messaging with RCS support will probably be restricted to “preloaded” functions solely. It appears unimaginable that Google does not have public APIs for third-party RCS apps, however this is your affirmation that Android 15 will proceed locking out Play Store apps from RCS.

Android’s PDF support might be in all places relying on what machine you will have, so Android 15 is together with making some huge enhancements to the built-in PDF render. First it should find yourself as a module so it may be up to date through the Play Store. Google says this Android 15 model is getting “superior options similar to rendering password-protected recordsdata, annotations, type modifying, looking, and choice with copy.”

Flip phone-style foldables are upending the Android app ecosystem with tiny little screens which might be too small to work with regular Android apps, and Google is attempting to do one thing about them with Android 15. Today gadgets 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 simply standardizing the opt-in flag, with a “cover display screen support” property. Google says: “These screens are too small to be thought-about as appropriate targets for Android apps to run on, however your app can opt-in to supporting them, making your app obtainable in additional locations.” As for how precisely a developer is meant to support a bunch of proprietary, ultra-tiny screens, it seems like Google is not prepared to assist with that but. At some level, Android wants framework, IDE, and Play Store app itemizing support for cover screens.

The second developer preview is obtainable at present for the Pixel 6, 7, 8, Fold, and Pixel Tablet. There’s 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 at all times, these early releases are simply low-level developer-facing additions (we skipped lots of font and SQL modifications). The thrilling new options—if there are any—needs to be introduced on May 14 at Google I/O.