Google has released the second test build of Android 15 for developers and told what innovations have appeared in it. The list of the largest changes includes expanded support for satellite communications, an application archiving function, expanded audio listening capabilities and a number of other software optimizations.
Satellite connection
The new Android build now includes interface elements responsible for satellite communication functions and the corresponding API. Third-party applications will be able to access it to determine whether the smartphone is connected to satellites or not.
On the left – only SDR content, on the right – a problem when displaying mixed SDR and HDR content
The OS code also notes that applications for sending SMS and RCS messages will have access to satellite communications. In other words, this type of communication will be available not only for calling special services. Smaller innovations look like this:
- Archiving applications
- Developers will be able to allow or disable the display of application interfaces on the external screens of flip phones
- Applications will be able to control dynamic range to balance the brightness of SDR and HDR content
- APIs have appeared that allow you to “listen” to a device via NFC without sending a response (for example, to verify credentials before a transaction)
- Added APIs that allow applications to keep statistics of their starts and stops, get information about their own size and other information
- Applications have learned to recognize the process of screen recording – now developers can control what ends up in the screencast
- The PdfRenderer API has been updated, allowing applications to display password-protected PDF files and their annotations, as well as edit, copy and search information in such PDF documents
Audio Sharing function
In addition, Google has added an Audio Sharing feature to the mobile OS, which simplifies access to the Auracast protocol. It allows you to broadcast an audio stream from the device to several wireless headphones at once. Another audio-related innovation is support for the CTA-2075 volume standard.
With its help, you can bring the volume level in all applications to the same level, so that users do not have to adjust it themselves when switching between running programs. Users of Google smartphones starting with the Pixel 6 version can try out a test build of the mobile OS.