After releasing two developer beta variations final 12 months, Google launched the primary public beta for Android 16 on Thursday. New options embody dwell updates on the lock display (like Dwell Actions on iOS), Superior Skilled Video (APV) codec for high-quality video recording, and a framework for builders to make their apps adaptable for various display sizes and side ratios.
For customers, assist for dwell updates would be the most seen change. Apple launched Dwell Actions to point out ever-changing updates equivalent to supply standing, exercises, or sports activities scores with iOS 16 in 2022. Android is now adopting that format to let builders push real-time updates natively with Android 16.
Google can also be including frameworks and instruments to make apps extra responsive in the case of design. The corporate is phasing out measurement restriction controls for builders, so their apps can look and work higher on massive screens equivalent to tablets and foldable units.
Android 16 additionally will get a brand new Superior Skilled Video (APV) codec for high-quality video recording and post-processing. The corporate stated that this codec will assist creators with sooner modifying capabilities and options like multi-view video and auxiliary video. That is presumably a direct reply to Apple’s ProRes and ProRes Uncooked codecs.
With APV, the corporate says that customers can count on a “perceptually” lossless high quality, which is nearer to uncooked footage. Plus, the codec will assist a excessive bitrate vary of footage for up to a couple gigabits per second for 2K, 4K, and 8K.
Google can also be including a approach for apps to know if the digicam inside their app ought to swap to nighttime mode for better-quality low-light photos. The corporate labored with Instagram to carry this function to customers of choose units final 12 months.
Android 16 will even carry enhancements on the accessibility entrance, with a brand new required area indicator within the APIs. Because of this new function, apps can inform the consumer {that a} particular area is obligatory. Google stated this may be helpful for conditions the place customers have to test the phrases and situations field.
Google took a distinct strategy with Android 16 by releasing the primary developer preview in November as a substitute of Q1 2025. The corporate wished to speed up the replace cycle of the Android launch by transport the ultimate model in Q2 fairly than Q3 and transport a minor replace later within the 12 months. That is Google’s effort to make sure that gadget makers have sufficient time to concern updates and scale back the fragmentation of software program variations throughout completely different units.
