Android 11 has already arrived: the Developer Preview is available for Pixels. The news

Google has announced in these hours the arrival of the new Android 11 Developer Preview available for download for the Pixel 2 and 2 XL, Pixel 3 and 3 XL, Pixel 3a and 3a XL and finally Pixel 4 and 4 XL smartphones. Among the main innovations are improved support for 5G, folding screens, and machine learning solutions. In short, all that is expected to be found in a smartphone in 2020/2021.

Android 11 Developer Preview: The main news

We remember that this version is designed for developers (or for advanced users who want to try the news in preview). It is not recommended to use the Android 11 Developer Preview on smartphones that are used in everyday life due to the possible presence of bugs, even critical ones.

Starting from 5G, thanks to the new version, you can bring those contents designed to be played on Wi-Fi, even for mobile users. This includes, for example, streaming 4K video, uploading high-resolution video game data, etc. All thanks to the high transfer rates offered by technology.

Everything will be based on new APIs designed specifically for 5G and, which are integrated into the Android 11 Developer Preview. For example, it is verified that the mobile data connection has no consumption credit but is of an unlimited type, while the bandwidth available is also checked.

Design, privacy, and connection with people

Even though they made their appearance in 2019, foldable smartphones are becoming an established fashion (Samsung Galaxy Z Flip or Motorola RAZR, for example). This means new screens, new formats, and the need for new interfaces. With the new API introduced in Android 11 Developer Preview, screens with a hole for the camera or those with curved edges (waterfall) are supported. There is no lack of support for screens with the notch already seen on other models in the past.

To keep in touch with people, there will be new possibilities offered to developers. In the new version, we will not only stop at the notification area (which will still be reworked) but also at solutions similar to those of Facebook Messenger with ” bubbles ” capable of being more ” multitasking. ”

In the notification area, it will be possible to insert images (if the app will be developed in this sense) and not just text. This will allow you not to have to open the application to do more complex operations than just writing.

Inside the Android 11 Developer Preview, there will be more space for the Neural Networks API (NNAPI). Machine learning will be more simply exploitable on Android devices, allowing more complex operations without weighing down the memory.

Privacy is a ” hot ” topic. The user can choose whether to temporarily grant apps permission to access location, microphone, and video camera. Once the app is closed (and if the user has chosen the option), the permissions will be revoked, and it will be necessary to reconfirm them.

New API has been integrated with regards to biometric controls to simplify their use by developers. There is also support expanded to new systems.

As for updates via the Google Play System Updates (known as Project Mainline), we move from the 10 modules supported by Android 10 to 22 of Android 11. This allows you to make the distribution of updates more effective, efficient, and faster.

Where to download Android 11 Developer Preview

Google has made available for the link for downloading the images for this Developer Preview. Recall, as written at the beginning, that the first series of Google Pixel smartphones is excluded. Google Pixel 4, Pixel 4XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, and Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are supported.