First Developer Preview of Android 13

Multiple people regularly pull out their Android devices to get things done. In this article, we are going to discuss the next release of Android along with the Developer preview of Android 13. Here, the essential themes like privacy and security, developer productivity are discussed. We also try to keep you updated about the latest updates created in 12L so that you can take the benefit of the more than 250 million large-screen Android devices.

What Is A Developer Preview?

Developer preview is basically a developer's public program. It gives early access to unreleased specifications in Microsoft teams. With the help of it, users are able to explore as well as test the upcoming specifications in their Microsoft team app.

First Developer Preview of Android 13 Privacy & Security:

In most cases, users are willing to have an OS and apps which can be trustable with their most personal and sensitive information. When it comes to Android’s product principles, privacy is the core of it. Android 13 is trying to generate a responsible platform of top-quality for all people. That's why it is expected that they are going to offer a safer environment where users will have more control.

Here, we are going to discuss a photo picker using which you can share images and videos securely with apps. It features new Wi-Fi permission that helps to reduce the requirements of apps so that you can have location permission. It is advised to try out the new APIs and test to check how the changes can affect your application.

Photo Picker and APIs:

With the help of a system photo picker, you are capable of protecting the image and video privacy of users. It is an optimized way through which you are capable of sharing both local and cloud-based photos securely. The long-standing document picker of the android platform enables you to transfer particular documents with an app. If it is not available, then you will need permission for watching all media files on the device. The photo picker is compatible with the apps due to which you are capable of accessing the shared photos and videos. Hence, you don't need to have any permission for viewing all media files. 

 

Developers are willing to use Google Play system updates to bring the experience of the API to android mobile users.

Nearby Device Permission for Wi-Fi:

Android 13 comes with the latest feature of NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES runtime permission for apps. It is a part of the NEARBY_DEVICES permission group. You need new permission for apps to call multiple commonly-used Wi-Fi APIs. It allows apps to find & connect to nearby devices using Wi-Fi and you don't need the location permission.

The location permission needs were a challenge earlier because apps had to attach to the nearby Wi-Fi devices, but the location of the device was not required. Apps that are targeting the Android 13 version are capable of requesting the NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES permission now instead of using the “neverForLocation” flag. It helps to promote a privacy-friendly app design and decrease friction for developers.

Developer Productivity and Tools:

This android version comes with the latest features as well as tools for developer productivity. The main motive of developers is to make beautiful apps that can support billions of devices. Developers always try to help you so that you can work more productively. Besides, it helps to decrease the cost of development. Thus, you are capable of keeping your focus on continuing to build amazing experiences.

Quick Settings Placement API:

There is a Quick Settings feature available in the notification shade. It is a very simple way through which you can change the settings. Besides, you are capable of taking fast actions except leaving the context of an app. Now people can find and add their tiles to Quick Settings. Your app is capable of prompting the user to add your custom tile directly with the help of a new tile placement API to the set of active Quick Settings tiles. This new system dialog enables you to add the tile in a single step and you don't need to move to the Quick Settings to add the tile.

There are three mobile displays where the first one comes with themed icons disabled. The themed icons are enabled for the second one. When it comes to the third phone screen, you can find both themed icons & dark themes enabled.

Per-App Language Preferences:

There are a few apps allowing you to select a language that is different from the default language. Thus, it helps to fulfill the requirements of multilingual users. These apps are capable of calling a new platform API now for setting or getting the user’s preferred language. In this way, it assists in decreasing boilerplate code and improving compatibility. According to the developers, they will add a similar API for broader compatibility in an upcoming Jetpack library.

Faster Hyphenation:

With the help of Hyphenation, you can read the wrapped text easily. Thus, it helps to make the UI more adaptive. The hyphenation performance is optimized in the Android version by as soon as 200%.

You are capable of turning it on in the TextViews.

If you are willing to enable the faster hyphenation, then you are required to take the help of new fullFast or normalFast frequencies in setHyphenationFrequency().

Programmable Shaders:

This android version is compatible with programmable RuntimeShader objects with the help of the Android Graphics Shading Language. It works within your android system for customizing painting within Android's canvas and filtering of View content.

There exists generally two shaders that follow:

AGSL animated shader

AGSL animated shader from GLSL Shader

These are used for implementing ripple effects, blur, and stretch overscroll.

App Compatibility:

Developers try to create updates quickly & smoothly and to do so, they are focusing especially on app compatibility. When you are going to use the Android 13 version, you can find multiple app-facing changes. Due to having these changes z users will now get more time.

Conclusion:

The Android 13 is optimized for devices with big screens like tablets, foldable, and Chromebooks. It comes in an excellent design that has fully adaptive apps. If necessary, then you can take the help of any guide to know how you should optimize it for tablets. Hope you will like the guide of Developer preview of Android 13.