Google is releasing the first developer preview of (*16*) 16 to speed up feature rollouts in units.
This is a significant change within the (*16*) rollout schedule as, over the previous few years, Google launched its first (*16*) developer beta round Q2, with a secure launch popping out post-July. With the brand new schedule, (*16*) 16’s secure model will likely be launched in Q2 2025.
Google may like to cut back fragmentation, the place completely different units are operating on completely different (*16*) variations, with this transfer. In competitors with iOS, this construction would additionally presumably permit machine producers to make core (*16*) options accessible to extra customers shortly.
However, Google will want to make it possible for the first main launch of (*16*) 16 is secure so builders may construct on prime of it while not having to fear about their apps breaking.
The firm added that other than releasing a significant SDK model in Q2 2025, it should even have a minor SDK launch in This fall 2025 with new developer APIs, presumably to launch options and performance to builders on an accelerated foundation.
“We’re planning the major release a quarter earlier (Q2 rather than Q3 in prior years) to better align with the schedule of device launches across our ecosystem, so more devices can get the major release of Android sooner,” Matthew McCullough, VP of product administration for (*16*) Developer ecosystem, mentioned in a weblog submit.
In phrases of options, the first developer preview of (*16*) 16 brings an embedded photograph picker for apps. With this performance, apps can ask customers to get entry to chosen images from each native storage and the cloud. Google first rolled out a approach for customers to give express entry to sure images from the gallery with (*16*) 13. The new photograph picker is designed to be seen with different parts of the app for higher interactivity.
Google can be releasing a developer preview of Health Connect with APIs that assist well being data, which signifies that apps can learn and write medical data in FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) format — a regular used for exchanging well being data between completely different techniques — with consumer permission.
The firm introduced the Google Pixel 8 sequence in September 2023 and the Google Pixel 9 Series in August 2024. The Pixel 9 bought (*16*) 15 remedy in October this yr. It’s unclear if Google will proceed with these two API launch per yr fashions for subsequent releases and the way they could impression the Pixel launch cycle.
“We’re committing to this cycle for 2025, but we expect to continue with additional SDK releases in future years as well,” a Google spokesperson mentioned.
Seang Chau, VP and GM of the (*16*) Platform, advised the (*16*) Faithful podcast in October that the corporate’s earlier method of level releases and API launch schedule made it troublesome for builders and machine producers to maintain up. With the brand new launch cycle, the corporate will launch a significant API change earlier within the yr, and can solely add APIs for the This fall 2025 launch so builders don’t face any points.
The story has been up to date with inputs from Google.