Google went on a rampage in Mountain View, California, announcing a billion and one advances in AI, upcoming changes to its products and services and – of course – Android 15. The new version of The most used mobile operating system will launch later this year, and during the company’s I/O developer conference, we got a better idea of what this new version is capable of.
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The short answer? A lot, but nothing that would make Android unrecognizable. Google is continuing to build on Material You and the mature Android platform, while adapting it to new form factors like foldable devices. It also takes a resolutely privacy-focused approach, better able to compete with all the privacy features in Apple’s iOS.
On top one A host of new AI features powered by Geminias features have been detected In the first beta version of the system, here are 8 new features that Google has just confirmed will be available on Android 15.
1. Private space
Android phones have had features that let you lock certain apps with your fingerprint or passcode for a while, but now Google is integrating this capability directly into Android 15 via Private space.
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This feature allows you to lock any apps that you don’t want prying eyes to see or use, like banking or health apps. It then segregates data and notifications from those apps so they are truly hidden, and you can even completely hide the existence of your private space. This feature uses your fingerprint for security, but you can always set up a custom lock if you want to increase the difficulty of cracking it.
Obviously, third-party companies will integrate PrivateSpace in various ways, but the foundation for the feature will now be rooted in Android 15.
2. Better experience on larger screens
Android 15 makes it easier for developers to adapt their apps for larger screens on tablets and foldables, all thanks to the new Compose AI adaptive layout library.
By using Compose, Google says it will be easier for developers to ensure their app UI adapts well to different window sizes, screens, orientations, etc. The API provides the following components: Compositing makes it easy for UI elements to adapt to the display they’re on, rather than just stretching or shrinking depending on the size of the screen. The API makes it easy to hide certain elements, reorient things, use framework extensions to hide or show certain parts of the app, etc.
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Google is also improving the stylus experience in Android 15 with new developer-focused tools to ensure latency remains low on third-party apps. Writing with the stylus while controlling the screen with the other hand will also work better. Additionally, the company is ensuring that developers have the necessary tools to make keyboard and mouse usage more user-friendly when using third-party apps, as well as ensuring that the games adapt well to whatever screen size they are on. This is a major pain point for foldable phone users because it’s difficult for apps to know how to stretch their content. So hopefully these fundamental changes will improve things.
3. Add ‘assets’ in your Google Wallet
Do you know why you have a lot of “stuff” in your physical wallet, like membership cards and tickets? Now you can digitize it all and add it to your Google Wallet. The company is adding the option to add a digital version of any card that contains text, so you can top up your gym membership, library card, tickets to your favorite band, and more right to your phone.
Also: 5 reasons why I switched to a digital wallet and you should too
4. It will be more difficult for thieves to steal your phone
One of Google’s most interesting AI-related features is called Theft Detection Lock. If your Android smartphone detects that someone has stolen it and tries to run, bike, or drive away, your phone will sense that movement and will lock the screen immediately. It will also automatically lock if it detects suspicious activity, such as repeated attempts to disconnect your phone or multiple failed login attempts.
While Theft Detection Lock will be available on phones running Android 10, factory reset protection is still exclusive to Android 15. If a thief tries to reset your stolen phone, The newer feature will prevent them from resetting unless they have your Google account credentials. It’s essentially Apple’s Find My iPhone feature, which locks iPhones when they’re reset. This makes your Android phone useless to anyone who doesn’t have your Google account credentials, which can help prevent theft.
5. Making phone calls is safer
In Android 15, Google is fighting spammers who use mobile site simulators and phishing text messages to scam you by adding notifications when your mobile network connection is not encrypted . This is useful if you are specifically targeted by criminals who want to intercept your mobile signal.
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Google is also adding Identifier Disclosure Transparency, which can help at-risk users like journalists know when their phone is being tapped through a fake cellular base station or technology. monitoring tool. Both of these features will require OEMs to support them, but Google said it anticipates that a lot of phone manufacturers will want to do so.
6. Slightly increased performance
On the developer side, Android 15 will support devices using larger 16KB pages, which will in turn bring some performance improvements. This will result in faster app launch times, improved power efficiency, allowing you to open the camera app faster and turn your phone on faster. Of course, this all depends on the type of phone you have and its specifications, but it’s nice to see Google focusing on improving speed.
7. AR in Google Maps
Google Maps will soon add the ability to view AR content on your phone, which will help you learn more about the places you visit. It’s still in the early stages, but Google says experiences built for locations in Singapore and Paris are rolling out first.
The feature is an extension of the extended reality (XR) platform it’s building with Snapdragon and Qualcomm for the Android ecosystem, so expect the full AR feature set in Maps to grow over time. time.
8. Integration with third-party trackers in Find My Device
Google is upgrading Find My Device with the ability to track tracking tags from companies like Chipolo and Pebblebee. This means you’ll be able to find phones, headphones, luggage, backpacks and more from a single place, similar to Apple’s Find My network on its platform.
Also: iOS and Android owners will now be warned if an unknown tracker is traveling with them
Additionally, other cards from Eufy, Jio, and Motorola will be supported later this year.
When will Android 15 launch?
According to Google’s chart, Android 15 will reach platform stability in June or July, with the bottom of the chart indicating that its public release will occur some time after that. Last year, Android 14 didn’t launch until August, so it seems safe to assume that Android 15 will follow suit.
There’s a lot more to discover from I/O 2024, so be sure to stay tuned to ZDNET for more details.
