Android 11 Beta 2 Arrives
- Paul Thurrott
- Jul 08, 2020
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Google today announced the availability of Android 11 Beta 2 and the platform stability milestone at which its APIs are finalized.
“Today we’re pushing out the second Beta of Android 11 for you to try,” Google vice president Dave Burke announced. “This release takes us to the Platform Stability milestone, which means that Android 11’s APIs and behaviors are finalized. For developers, it’s time to get started on your final compatibility updates and publish them in time for the official release later in Q3.”
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(Burke doesn’t mention this, but the latest leak suggests the official release will be September 8.)
Google released Android 11 Beta 1 one month ago following three Developer Previews. The firm says that this version focuses on making Android more people-centric and expressive, helping users control their smart devices, and giving them even more control over sensitive permissions. There are new APIs for features such as Conversations, Bubbles, Device Controls, and Media Controls.
“Platform Stability means that all app-facing surfaces and behaviors are now final in Android 11,” Burke explains. “This includes not only final SDK and NDK APIs, but also final system behaviors and restrictions on non-SDK interfaces that may affect apps. So from Beta 2, you can release compatibility updates with confidence that the platform won’t change.”
Developers with a Google Pixel 2, 3, 3a, or 4 can get Android 11 Beta 2 by enrolling online, but those who have already configured a device for an earlier release will get Beta 2 via an over-the-air update.