Android 11 developer preview first look | Release date | Features | Name
Friday, 21 February 2020
Android 11 is here. It's the next version of Android. and Google's releasing a super early preview of it for developers this year. Now, the changes here are really developer-facing, there's not a lot of stuff you're gonna see if you're a user. But Google's making some big promises.
We've got support for 5G, better foldable phone support, new improved privacy, and storage stuff. One thing to keep in mind, this is really a preview for developers only. And I mean, really, like even more so than other years, you can only install on a pixel 2,3,3A or 4, or the XL versions. And to install it, need a completely new gear device.
1. Chat Bubbles.
6. 5G improvements
Google's promising 5G improvements, like the ability for apps to figure out if your phone really has an unlimited data connection before burdens through your whole data plan with, you know, giant 5G data usage.
There's also better support for scoped storage where Android puts apps in their own little bins where they can't interact as much. It's actually pretty similar to iOS. Now, Google introduced this last year with Android 10. But it's making a much bigger push on this year. And it's the sort of thing that will improve security.
Google's also going to add a feature for if you want to turn that off, they'll be able to in some cases, again, this is more of a developer thing, but your apps will be more secure in things that you might actually notice.
There's also going to be better support for new types of screens like foldable displays, pinhole displays, waterfall displays, weird edges. Look, Android phones are getting really interesting and really wacky, cool, new designs, and Google's going to make sure that Android works with all of them, which is great. Google's also promising OS-level support for shaking stuck authentication which should make it easier to avoid spam calls.
It's working on improving low latency video streaming for game streaming services like Google's project stadia. It's also promising things like project mainline, which lets Google update parts of the Android OS through the Play Store without having to roll out giant software updates like Android 11.
Now, again, this is all really, really early stuff, there's obviously going to be much bigger features that Google has for us later. And some of these features are even already available right now, if you have, you know, Samsung, or Motorola phones. But what's important here that Google's laying the groundwork for the future of Android, when it bakes these features into the OS on a level like this.
It's setting the bar for developers, both software and hardware to build better and better phones for you in the future. And that's really exciting. Obviously, again, this is super early, and we'll have lots more in Android 11 in the coming days, weeks and months as Google continues to roll out betas and makes more announcements, but until then, stay tuned with us
Just don't do it, guys, just don't trust me on this. But if you are a developer, or you're like us, and you happen to have a spare pixel lying around, you can install the Android 11 developer preview today. And there's still not a whole lot of stuff. Again, all the big cool, exciting changes are probably gonna come at
Google IO later this year.
Android 11 Features
Android 11 coming with a lot of features. Users will definitely enjoy these features. Google built major and minor new features in Android 11, so without wasting our time let us dive into them-
1. Chat Bubbles.
Now, it's a pretty similar feature to Facebook messengers chat heads feature where, you know, puts the head of the person and they're floating over the screen. This is a system-level thing that in theory, any messaging app can use, right now the only app that actually uses it is Google's own messaging app.
But in theory, all your favorite messaging apps should be able to use it in all works together in this single floating, bubbly pop up. And then you can get to
But in theory, all your favorite messaging apps should be able to use it in all works together in this single floating, bubbly pop up. And then you can get to
those messages from anywhere. Using the features actually really simple. You just tap and hold on a messaging notification. And there's a center bubble thing that sends it to a bubble. And if you're using the Android 10 betas Actually, this probably should sound pretty familiar, 'cause it debuted there and
then didn't make the final cut.
Anyway, it's pure now in Android 11. Hopefully, it'll actually ship this time to go along with bubbles. There's the new conversation area the notification shade, which breaks out your messages from all your other notifications like Instagram likes and emails and puts them up on top of the notification area. The idea here is that it's easier to find than continue the conversations you're having with people because it's a phone. And that's what phones are for.
Anyway, it's pure now in Android 11. Hopefully, it'll actually ship this time to go along with bubbles. There's the new conversation area the notification shade, which breaks out your messages from all your other notifications like Instagram likes and emails and puts them up on top of the notification area. The idea here is that it's easier to find than continue the conversations you're having with people because it's a phone. And that's what phones are for.
2. Application permissions.
Google's letting you do now is now when an app asks if you to access your microphone or your camera or your location data. Instead of having two choices, either know or have it always, there's now a third option. Where you can just give it permission that just one time. So if you know, wanna send a picture using an app, but don't want that app to have access to your camera until the end of time.
3. Screen recording
That's what this is for screen recording. Okay, so if you've been using Android, especially the betas we've been burned on this before, but it's here now and Android 11 beta, there's a screen recording UI lets you just natively record your screen on Android It has a much better user interface. This time, it looks much nicer. And hopefully, Google will actually, you know, ship it this time. But again, we'll have to wait and see Fingers crossed.
4. Dark mode
There are also a couple smaller features like dark mode now has automated settings, you can set it to turn on and off at set times as opposed to having it you know, via manual process the soli gestures on the pixel four have a new one where you can wave your hand over your phone to start and stop your music.
There's a new touchscreen sensitivity option, again, only on the pixel four so far, that claims that will make your touchscreen more sensitive and work better when you have a screen protector on also returning I should say is the ability to pin apps, the top of the share sheet, which is something that people were asking me for a long time.
Now when you're sharing something, instead of just showing you all the apps that you have installed on your phone that you can send it to, you can just pin the ones you actually want, like you know, messages and email right on top. Now, this being a developer beta, there's a bunch of stuff that we can't really show you yet either because it's too abstract for us to show on the phone. Or because it's just not done yet,
3. Screen recording
That's what this is for screen recording. Okay, so if you've been using Android, especially the betas we've been burned on this before, but it's here now and Android 11 beta, there's a screen recording UI lets you just natively record your screen on Android It has a much better user interface. This time, it looks much nicer. And hopefully, Google will actually, you know, ship it this time. But again, we'll have to wait and see Fingers crossed. 
4. Dark mode
There are also a couple smaller features like dark mode now has automated settings, you can set it to turn on and off at set times as opposed to having it you know, via manual process the soli gestures on the pixel four have a new one where you can wave your hand over your phone to start and stop your music. 
5. Pin apps
Now when you're sharing something, instead of just showing you all the apps that you have installed on your phone that you can send it to, you can just pin the ones you actually want, like you know, messages and email right on top. Now, this being a developer beta, there's a bunch of stuff that we can't really show you yet either because it's too abstract for us to show on the phone. Or because it's just not done yet,
6. 5G improvements
Google's promising 5G improvements, like the ability for apps to figure out if your phone really has an unlimited data connection before burdens through your whole data plan with, you know, giant 5G data usage. 
There's also better support for scoped storage where Android puts apps in their own little bins where they can't interact as much. It's actually pretty similar to iOS. Now, Google introduced this last year with Android 10. But it's making a much bigger push on this year. And it's the sort of thing that will improve security.
Google's also going to add a feature for if you want to turn that off, they'll be able to in some cases, again, this is more of a developer thing, but your apps will be more secure in things that you might actually notice.
There's also going to be better support for new types of screens like foldable displays, pinhole displays, waterfall displays, weird edges. Look, Android phones are getting really interesting and really wacky, cool, new designs, and Google's going to make sure that Android works with all of them, which is great. Google's also promising OS-level support for shaking stuck authentication which should make it easier to avoid spam calls.
It's working on improving low latency video streaming for game streaming services like Google's project stadia. It's also promising things like project mainline, which lets Google update parts of the Android OS through the Play Store without having to roll out giant software updates like Android 11.
Now, again, this is all really, really early stuff, there's obviously going to be much bigger features that Google has for us later. And some of these features are even already available right now, if you have, you know, Samsung, or Motorola phones. But what's important here that Google's laying the groundwork for the future of Android, when it bakes these features into the OS on a level like this.
It's setting the bar for developers, both software and hardware to build better and better phones for you in the future. And that's really exciting. Obviously, again, this is super early, and we'll have lots more in Android 11 in the coming days, weeks and months as Google continues to roll out betas and makes more announcements, but until then, stay tuned with us
Android 11 logo
This is the Android 11 logo. They're turning it up to 11 it's very amazing. You got it. I got it. They got it. I missed the dessert names. Where's the dessert names Google.
Thanks so much for reading.
What is the name of our Android 11?
Sadly, we already know its name: Android 11. If you’re waiting to listen to what dessert it'll be named after, a bit like Google has wiped out the past, this fun aspect was retired in August 2019. Going forward, future iterations of Android are going to be known only by the amount, instead of a letter that's then related to a dessert. for instance, Android 9 was also referred to as Android 9 Pie, and Android 8 was known better as Android 8 Oreo. Android 10 would are Android Q, but no dessert was officially assigned to the software thanks to the branding change. Therefore, we all know that Android 11 is going to be called Android 11, and that’s all.When will the Android 11 release?
Google traditionally releases the ultimate, public version of Android during a previous couple of months of the year, often alongside its new Pixel smartphones. In 2019, Android 10 was released on September 3. Expect an identical early September date for Android 11 in 2020.
However, before the general public release, Google will send beta versions to developers to check out first. the primary has arrived in March for the past few years, so again, expect the initial beta version of Android 11 to return round the same time this year. After this, the frequent major Android 11 release event is going to be during Google I/O, when the software also will get its official launch.
Based on past years, a replacement beta version will come soon after the Google I/O keynote presentation and will be compatible with a good range of devices outside of Google’s Pixel range. Google I/O is Google’s annual developer conference, and it's during the opening keynote where we'll learn more about many of the new Android 11 features for the primary time. The event will happen between May 12 and should 14.