Google Releases Android 15 Beta 2: Private Space And More

Google recently released the second beta of Android 15, and can be downloaded of you enrolled for the beta update. The update is available for handsets, foldables and tablets, for Pixels and other OEMs including Honor, iQOO, Lenovo, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Sharp, Tecno, vivo, and Xiaomi.

One of the standout features in this update is Private Space, a secure area where users can store sensitive apps, effectively hiding them from the launcher, recents view, and settings menu when locked. This feature also prevents the apps from sending notifications or consuming resources in the background.

In addition to privacy improvements, Android 15 Beta 2 focuses on efficiency. It introduces a new timeout for foreground services related to dataSync and mediaProcessing, which, after approximately six hours, prompts the system to call a new Service.onTimeout method. This change is part of Google’s broader efforts to optimize battery life and app performance.

For those using larger devices, multitasking has been made more intuitive and customizable, enhancing productivity on foldable phones and tablets. The update also includes Predictive Back, which displays a preview of the screen you’ll navigate back to, eliminating any guesswork.

Developers should note the upcoming requirement to support 16 KB page sizes, which promises improved performance for memory-intensive applications. Other notable additions include smoother Picture-in-Picture (PiP) transitions, personalized widget previews, custom vibration effects for notifications, and improvements to health and workout apps.

The Android 15 release timeline is as follows:

• February 2024: Developer Preview 1, an early baseline build focused on developer feedback.
• March 2024: Developer Preview 2, an incremental update with additional features and behavior changes.
• April 2024: Beta 1, the initial beta-quality release, over-the-air update to early adopters enrolled in Android Beta.
• May 2024: Beta 2, an incremental beta-quality release.
• June 2024: Beta 3, the first Platform Stability milestone including final APIs and behaviors.
• The final public release to AOSP and OEMs is planned for later in the year, with no specific date mentioned yet.

As for the devices supported for the Android 15 Beta releases, the beta is available on a range of popular devices from Google’s device-maker partners. The list includes but is not limited to:

• Google Pixel: Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Fold, Tablet, 8, and 8 Pro.
• Other partners like HONOR, iQOO, Lenovo, Nothing, OnePlus, OPPO, realme, Sharp, TECNO, vivo, and Xiaomi have eligible devices for the Android 15 Beta.

Each partner will handle their own enrollments and support, and provide the Beta updates directly to users. For specific devices and build details, it’s recommended to check the respective device-maker partner sites.